Thorup Delays Al Ahly Debut as Burundi Showdown Approaches

New Al Ahly Boss Delays His First Training

The Danish coach Jess Thorup, newly appointed manager of Al Ahly, decided to delay leading the Reds’ training by another full day, stretching the start to 24 hours.

Al Ahly had initially announced that Thorup would take charge of the first training after his signing last Friday, but plans kept shifting—from Friday to Sunday, then to today, and now to tomorrow, prompting amused headlines and a few groans among supporters.

The Reds will bring the squad back to the pitch tomorrow evening at Cairo’s Al-Tetsh Stadium in preparation for the Saturday trip to Burundi to face Eagle Nwar in the first leg of the CAF Champions League round of 32.

Thorup was present at the Egypt versus Guinea-Bissau World Cup qualifier in Cairo the previous night, watching from the stands as the team closed in on qualification; the trip to Burundi will also serve as a test of the new coach’s approach.

The delay is explained by several factors: the Danish coach awaits the arrival of his foreign staff, wants to give players 24 hours of recovery after recent international commitments, and is awaiting the return of expatriate players who are still with national teams.

Thorup plans to bring a five-strong foreign support staff—two coaches, a fitness coach, a performance analyst, and a goalkeeping coach—and all are expected to land in Cairo today, ready to hit the ground running alongside the local team.

The club also wants to give the players who were on international duty time to regroup before training begins.

Injuries and fitness: four players will miss the Burundi trip due to injury or illness, including Moroccan defender Ashraf Dari and winger Hussein El Shahat; midfielder Imam Ashour and fullback Karim Fouad are also sidelined, while Mohammed Shukri is returning from a long layoff and will undergo a medical check.

Shahat is expected to be out for about two months; Fouad should be fit for a gradual return within a week; Dari needs around three weeks to regain full fitness, and Imam Ashour is undergoing ongoing medical tests to monitor his viral load.

For the Burundi trip, Al Ahly will fly on a private plane, with the delegation planning to depart on Thursday morning and to train first on a Burundi secondary stadium before the return leg, using a logistics-heavy plan overseen by Dr. Mohamed Shoukry and Walid Salahuddin.

The squad’s management faced earlier trouble finding a suitable hotel near the venue; after liaising with the Egyptian embassy in Burundi, extra rooms were secured, and the club’s sports services unit also arranged the full charter flight.

Traveling arrangements were completed with visas for all staff and travel companions, along with specialized immunizations and a team-wide plan to avoid any last-minute hiccups that could derail the African campaign before it begins.

The technical staff will deliver a first official session in Burundi’s venue, marking the start of Thorup’s era, with the coach’s two-and-a-half year contract underlining the club’s long-term plan.

The announcement also noted that five foreign aides will join the staff immediately, and Adel Mustafa will continue as part of the international team, ensuring continuity while Thorup builds his own framework.

As preparations continue, the club insists the Eagle Nwar tie is a crucial hurdle that will test the new regime’s cohesion and tactical philosophy, with the African dream still very much alive.

Punchline 1: If timing were a sniper’s art, Thorup’s calendar would have perfect aim—just not always at the right target.

Punchline 2: The only thing sharper than the schedule is the coffee Thorup drinks while waiting for the next update.