
File Photo: Ahly's Forward Wessam Abou Ali in action during the match with Pharco. Photo courtesy of Ahly Facebook page.
Palestinian forward Wessam Abou Ali, who finished on top of the scorers' list last season, has been excluded from the game due to a muscle problem.
Mahmoud "Kahraba" Abdel-Moneim, the only other striker in the team, is departing the club.
To bolster the attacking options, coach Koller has summoned young talents Samir Mohamed (21 years old) and Hamza Abdel-Karim (17 years old) to the squad for the Pharco FC game.
Despite leading the league table with 18 points from eight games this season, Ahly have hit a rough patch, losing two of their last five matches.
Swiss tactician Marcel Koller finds himself in a selection quandary with a significant absentee list that includes Moroccoan duo Yahya Attiat-Allah and Achraf Dari, Taher Mohamed Taher and Ahmed "Nabil Kouka as well as long term absentees Reda Slim, Karim Fouad and Ali Maaloul.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for Ahly as midfielder Omar Kamal returns to the squad after a spell on the sidelines due to a knee injury.
Koller emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating to reporters, "We are facing a significant number of absences, and the players must comprehend the challenges we are up against and maintain their focus. We are in dire need of individuals who can capitalize on scoring opportunities and find the back of the net."
Ahly have to consider new signings this winter to maintain their competitive edge in both domestic and continental tournaments.
On the other side of the pitch, Pharco FC, currently sitting in eighth place with 10 points, are buoyed by the availability of Moroccan winger Zouhair El Moutaraji, who joined the squad in September 2024.
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