Ahmed Fathi speaks to Ahly coach Patrice Carteron (Photo: Ahly's official website)
Ahly’s injured veteran right-back Ahmed Fathi is confirmed to miss Thursday’s match against the UAE’s Al-Wasl, but winger Eslam Mohareb will be available, as he has recovered from his injury, the club announced on Sunday.
The Cairo giants will be hosted by the Emirati side in the second leg of the Arab Club Champions Cup (Zayed Champions Cup) round.
Ahly will be on the back foot after a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Alexandria on 28 October.
“Fathi is confirmed to miss Al-Wasl’s match as he hasn’t recovered yet from his muscular injury, while Mohareb will be ready as he is supposed to rejoin the trainings starting from Monday,” Ahly’s doctor Khaled Mahmoud was quoted as saying by the club’s official website.
Fathi was sidelined in Ahly’s 3-0 loss to Tunisia’s Esperance on 9 November after picking up a muscular tear in the Reds’ 3-1 victory in the first leg in Cairo a week earlier. The 4-3 aggregate result of the two-legged final denied the club a ninth record-extending title of the prestigious competition.
Mohareb has picked up an ankle injury in Saturday’s friendly match against the club’s youth team.
Ahly is already suffering from an injury crisis, with midfielder Amr El-Sulaya and defender Mohamed Hany also sidelined due to injuries.
Key duo Nigerian forward Junior Ajayi and Tunisian left-back Ali Maaloul have also missed Ahly’s recent matches due to injury, but will be back next month.
“Ajayi and Maaloul are progressing well and they will rejoin the trainings by the middle of December,” the doctor concluded.
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