Koller’s future at Ahly in doubt after Champions League exit

Mahmoud Elassal , Saturday 26 Apr 2025

The future of Swiss coach Marcel Koller at Ahly is uncertain following the club’s shocking exit from the CAF Champions League and growing calls from fans for his departure.

Swiss coach Marcel Koller. Photo courtesy of Al-Ahly Facebook page.

Tensions escalated after Friday’s semi-final elimination at the hands of South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, prompting the club to cancel Saturday’s training session.

Supporters at the stadium voiced their frustration toward Koller, 64, after the elimination on the away goals rule, following a goalless first leg in South Africa.

Local media reported that Ahly’s management held a meeting to review the team’s recent poor performance and the exit from the fans’ beloved continental competition.

The board is also reportedly considering Koller’s future ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and the remaining fixtures in the Egyptian Premier League.

According to Egyptian press reports, the Cairo giants are preparing a farewell ceremony to thank Koller for his contributions since joining the club in September 2022.

During his tenure, Koller guided Ahly to 11 trophies, including:
Egyptian Premier League: 2022–23, 2023–24
Egypt Cup: 2021–22, 2022–23
Egyptian Super Cup: 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
CAF Champions League: 2022–23, 2023–24
FIFA African–Asian–Pacific Cup: 2024

However, this season has seen a downturn in form. Ahly are second in the league with 38 points, four behind leaders Pyramids FC.

They have also been knocked out of the CAF Champions League and the Egypt Cup.

If their poor run continues, the defending champions risk dropping to third in the standings for the first time in 30 years.

They are just four points ahead of arch-rivals Zamalek, currently in third place.

Ahly will face Petrojet on Wednesday in the third matchday of the Premier League playoff stage.

With five matches remaining, victory is crucial to keeping their domestic title hopes alive and securing qualification for next season’s CAF Champions League.

Ahly are scheduled to kick off the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign against the United States’s Inter Miami on 15 June.

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