Al Ahly’s Cairo Camp Under a New Commander Ahead of Burundi Showdown
14 October 2025
Training in Cairo Ahead of Burundi Clash
Al Ahly’s first team held its main training session in Cairo today before flying to Burundi on Thursday morning, as they prepare for the CAF Champions League first leg against Eagles Nouar on Saturday.
The Danish head coach Yis Turup attended the session but did not lead it, with his core staff still arriving in Egypt. A club source told KOOORA that senior coach Adel Mustafa and assistant coach Mohamed Naguib ran the practice, and tomorrow’s session in Cairo will be the final one before departure.
The plan for the training camp and travel has been finalized by the club’s football administration, mapping out activities from today through the tie’s kickoff time. The aim remains to reclaim the continental crown after last season’s semifinal exit to Sundowns of South Africa.
The team is set to travel on Thursday by private plane to Burundi, where they will train on a side pitch that evening and hold a final workout on the same venue on Friday, before returning to Cairo on a private flight after the match.
Debut and Deal
Tomorrow’s session will mark the official on-field debut of the Danish Yis Turup as Al Ahly’s head coach following his formal introduction at last week’s press conference. The club announced Turup’s two-and-a-half-year contract, along with five assistants, while Adel Mustafa remains part of the foreign coaching team.
The Return of the International Group
A group of internationals linked up with the squad in the evening after completing duties with the national teams, with the Mali midfielder Aliou Diang featuring and Tunisian Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan undergoing rehab. Ashraf Dari and Imam Ashour were expected to join later, and Ashraf Shahat and Karim Fouad were not part of the trip due to injury and illness. Mohamed Shukri will undergo a medical check on arrival in Burundi. Shahat is anticipated to be out for about two months, while Fouad could be cleared for gradual participation within a week, and Dari would require at least three weeks to rejoin training, as Imam Ashour continues medical tests to monitor a viral parameter in the blood.
Gear, Hotels, and Burundian Hurdles
The team’s travel and lodging encountered logistical challenges, notably hotel availability near the stadium. The Egyptian embassy and Al Ahly’s Sports Services Company worked to secure extra rooms and finalize private flight bookings to ensure smooth travel for the squad and staff.
The Burundi Mission
The delegation to Burundi will be led by Dr. Mohamed Shoukry, a board member on his final trip before not contesting the elections. Eagles Nouar reached the Round of 32 after overcoming Djibouti’s Basis Telecom in the previous round, and the club’s administration has been actively resolving issues that threatened the trip and preparations for the match.
Honor for Emad Al Nahhas
Club president Mahmoud El Khatib publicly honored former interim coach Emad Al Nahhas for his loyalty and contribution to last season’s league title, inviting the planning committee to formalize the tribute. Al Nahhas later took charge of Iraqi club Al-Zawraa after Al Ahly appointed Yis Turup as head coach.
The board emphasized the continuity of the foreign staff with Turup and his team as they embark on this continental campaign and begin shaping a new era for Al Ahly.
