Ahly’s veteran playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika declined to take part in a friendly game against lower division club Shebeen on Sunday for no apparent reason.

It was the final warm up for the Red devils before they host Congo’s AC Leopards on 31 August in their fourth group-stage game of the African Champions League.

The Egyptian international, who is known for being Islamist-leaning, came in under fierce criticism lately after local reports alleged that he verbally abused an army officer upon the team’s arrival in Cairo after they beat Leopards 1-0 away from home.

He later denied speaking to any security personnel at the airport, insisting that he “fully respects all the country’s institutions, including the army.”  

"The club doctor said that the player's absence is not for medical reasons as he is totally fit for the match," Ahly said in a statement without elaborating further.

Abou-Treika, who is considered as one of Egypt’s best-ever players, has refrained from commenting on headline-grabbing political issues since the army overthrew Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first freely elected leader.

Morsi was toppled by the army on 3 July following mammoth protests demanding his resignation.

Ahly and Leopards have four points each from possible nine. South Africa’s Orlando Pirates top the group on seven points while Egypt’s Zamalek lie at the bottom with a solitary point.

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