Ahmed Abdelzaher (R) of Egypt's Al Ahly celebrates after scoring a goal against South Africa's Orlando Pirates during their African Champions League final match at the Arab Contractors Stadium in Cairo, November 10, 2013 (Photo: Reuters)
Ahly have agreed to send suspended striker Ahmed Abdel-Zaher out to join Ittihad of Libya on loan in a swap deal that will see the Libyan club striker Ahmed Raouf join the Cairo giants.
"Raouf has officially signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Ahly, starting from January," Ahly said in a statement on its official website on Saturday.
In November Abdel-Zaher was heavily disciplined with a suspension, release and fine for "mixing politics with sports."
The 28-year-old player was suspended and put on the team's transfer list for making the four-fingered hand signal known as the Rabaa sign, a symbol associated with support for ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, during the African Champions league final.
Although he apologised publically, Abdel-Zaher was deprived of his Championship bonuses, playing in the Club World Cup in December.
Raouf boosts Ahly attacking line
The signing of Raouf mainly comes as a replacement for Abdel-Zaher, as well as to recover the absence of striker Emad Meteb who had a series of injures that kept him out of action during the past two seasons.
The 31-year-old Raouf joined Ittihad of Libya last summer from Egyptian club ENPPI after signing a two-year contract.
Before departing to Libya, Raouf was regularly linked with a move to one of the Cairo giants, Ahly or Zamalek, after delivering outstanding performances with the petroleum club, ENPPI, since joining them in 2008 from coastal club Al-Qanah.
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