Al Ahly Confirms Ali Maâloul’s Injury, Tunisian Star to Miss 10 Days
Khaled Hegazy
Dailysports's expert
Egyptian giants Al Ahly have officially confirmed that Tunisian left-back Ali Maâloul is suffering from a muscular injury, which ruled him out of the highly anticipated Cairo Derby against Zamalek in the Egyptian Premier League.
Maâloul’s Absence Raises Questions
The Tunisian international was a surprise omission from Al Ahly’s squad in the 1-1 draw against Zamalek on Saturday, leading to speculation regarding his condition.
When Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller was asked about Maâloul’s absence, he simply responded with a smirk, stating that “he is injured.” His reaction led some to believe he was mocking the media’s concerns about the player’s status.
However, Al Ahly’s official channel, through the program “Ahly Goalkeeper,” later confirmed that Maâloul indeed has a muscle strain.
Shobier Confirms Injury, Apologizes to Koller
Prominent Egyptian journalist Ahmed Shobier also revealed that Maâloul suffered muscle fatigue two days before the match and will be sidelined for 10 days.
Shobier, who initially questioned Koller’s statements, later apologized to the Swiss coach, admitting that Maâloul was not fully fit before the derby.
Recurring Injury Woes for Maâloul
The 34-year-old defender has experienced injury difficulties in the past. He was sidelined for months after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final against Espérance de Tunis in May 2024.
Since joining Al Ahly in July 2016, Maâloul has made 287 appearances, scoring 51 goals and assisting 83, making him the highest goal-contributing foreign player in the club’s history.
Al Ahly’s Next Match Without Maâloul
- Opponent: Haras El Hodoud
- Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
- Venue: El Max Stadium, Alexandria
- Kickoff: 4:00 PM Cairo Time
Egyptian Premier League Standings
- Pyramids FC – 36 points (15 matches)
- Al Ahly – 33 points (15 matches, unbeaten)
- Zamalek – 28 points (14 matches)
Al Ahly will aim to close the gap on league leaders Pyramids FC, but they will have to do so without their star left-back for at least the next two games.
