Ibanez back, Wenderson sidelined no more: Al Ahli brace for Al-Gharafa in AFC Elite showdown

Preview and squad notes

Al Ahli Saudi FC are gearing up to face Al-Gharafa SC of Qatar on Monday at the Al-Inmaa Stadium in Jeddah, in the third round of the Elite phase of the AFC Champions League.

According to the Saudi daily Al-Yaom, German coach Matthias Jaissle received a welcome update: Brazilian Roger Ibanez is back in contention after recovering from an injury that kept him out of the last Roshen Pro League match against Al-Shabab.

Ibanez is deemed ready after taking part in group training ahead of the upcoming fixture, having recovered from the muscle issue that sidelined him in the previous league outing.

The news eases the blow for the western club, which had been missing Galeno Wenderson due to fitness concerns ahead of the Al-Ahli versus Al-Gharafa clash.

Wenderson missed the final training session, with the winger working solo as he battles a lingering muscle problem.

Wenderson’s injury has kept him out of the last several sessions as he undergoes rehabilitation to regain full fitness.

A new defender appeared in training: Nigerian center-back Bello, on loan with the club’s 21 squad, took part in the group session for the first time, earning a spot in the coach’s considerations for the clash.

Al Ahli sit second in their group with four points, having beaten Nasaf 4-2 and drawn with Al-Duhail 2-2 in Doha.

Al-Gharafa, meanwhile, occupy sixth place with three points after a 2-0 win over the Iraqi Police and a 3-4 loss to Sharjah.

The article notes that the top eight teams in the West group advance to the Round of 16, with four West sides set to meet four East contenders in the quarterfinals.

Gloomy fan sentiment has grown as Al Ahli supporters have urged Jaissle’s dismissal due to results dips, despite his contract renewal in September for two more seasons, potentially extending to 2028. Since the renewal, the team has played seven matches across three competitions, recording only two wins (Nasaf and Al-Hazm) with several draws along the way.

In contrast, Al-Gharafa’s record in the same period shows four draws and one win across competitions as of now.

Jaissle acknowledged the difficulty of the Al-Gharafa game, coming three days after a 1-1 draw with Al-Shabab at the Al-Inmaa stadium in the Saudi Pro League. He told reporters: “It’s not easy to play after a setback; we return to Asian action and rely on our home fans for extra motivation.”

He added: “Fans have every right to be angry; we share the sentiment, and I’m disappointed too, but we aim to respond in the right way.”

On the topic of his earlier comments about relying on players to change the situation, Jaissle said: “Yes, I mentioned that, but the Shabab game wasn’t easy after a pause.”

Valentin Atangana, a midfielder for Al Ahli, echoed the sentiment: “The Al-Gharafa game will be tough, our last match against Duhail ended in a draw, and we want to show our best to make amends.”

Across Asian competitions, Al Ahli have faced Qatari clubs 26 times, winning 11 and losing 8 to their Qatari opponents.

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Pressed but hopeful: stakes, context and calls for progress

The setup remains a high-stakes group stage with the West’s eight teams fighting for a knockout spot, and Al Ahli’s route through the Elite phase to the quarters clearly mapped out by the latest standings.

As the countdown to kickoff continues, the combination of Ibanez’s return, Bello’s introduction, and Wenderson’s fitness status will be crucial for Al Ahli’s balance and attacking options against a dangerous Al-Gharafa side.

Fans will be watching closely how Jaissle fields the squad, how quickly the team can translate training ground improvements into a positive result, and whether the home crowd can lift a team seeking to stabilize their campaign in a fiercely competitive group.

Two punchlines to close: If football tactics were a sniper’s joke, the pick would be “Aim small, miss small”—but Jaissle will hope his players aim big and miss nothing. And remember, in football as in comedy, timing is everything: if your run is off by a fraction, the ball will find a different career path—usually the opposing net.