Al Ahly Vs Stade d’Abidjan: Key Absences and Surprises in Squad for CAF Champions League Clash

Prior to their pivotal CAF Champions League group stage encounter against Stade d'Abidjan on Saturday, Al Ahly completed their preparations at Mokhtar El-Tetsh Stadium. In order to discuss travel plans and game strategies for the forthcoming matches, head coach Marcel Koller had a strategic meeting with his technical staff.

Koller praised the team’s recent 2-0 win over Smouha in the Egyptian Premier League despite dealing with injuries and fatigue. The Swiss tactician decided on a single training session in Ivory Coast on Friday before Saturday’s game.

The squad list included notable surprises, such as the return of Mohamed Hany after recovering from an injury sustained in the CAF Super Cup against Zamalek on September 27. Additionally, Yusuf Ayman made the cut despite speculation about his potential transfer.

Full Al Ahly Squad List:

• Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, Mostafa Makhlouf
  
• Defenders: Khaled Abdelfattah, Yousef Aymen, Ramy Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany
  
• Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Amr El Solia, Mohamed Magdy Afsha, Karim El Debes, Karim Nedved, Emam Ashour, Omar El Saaiy, Mostafa Abou El Khier, Ahmed Nabil Kouka, Akram Tawfik
  
• Forwards: Wessam Abou Ali, Samir Mohamed, Hussein El-Shahat

Absent from the squad are Ali Maâloul, excluded due to registration issues, and a group of key players sidelined by injuries, including Karim Fouad, Reda Slim, Taher Mohamed Taher, Yahia Attia, and Achraf Dari. Percy Tau and Mahmoud Kahraba were also left out, as they are close to moving to teams in Qatar and Libya, respectively.

Al Ahly's team, headed by board member Mohamed El-Damaty, will fly to Ivory Coast on a private plane. With two matches remaining in the group stage, Al Ahly is focused on getting an important win to improve their chances of advancing.