Yassin Mansour: Al Ahly Belongs in the Champions League

European Dream for Al Ahly

Yassin Mansour, a candidate for vice chairman of Al Ahly, argues that the club deserves to compete in the UEFA Champions League, not merely in African competitions.

He recently returned to the club after dedicating time to serve in other capacities, explaining that his eldest son now manages several projects and a full leadership team has been assembled to support the club’s operations.

He noted that Mahmoud El Khatib, the club’s president, is a legendary figure in Egyptian football who is currently unwell and needs rest. This situation influenced Mansour’s decision to pursue the vice presidency, with a plan to spend 3 to 6 months learning every facet of Al Ahly before taking bigger steps.

Mansour envisions forming professional, empowered administrations with full authority, aiming to adopt the world’s best practices in sports governance and to ensure the club remains competitive on the global stage.

He stressed that Al Ahly is a colossal brand and the greatest in Africa and the Middle East, deserving to play in Europe rather than staying on the African continent, and he hopes to see the club compete in continental competitions outside Africa’s borders.

He recalled his lifelong love for Al Ahly, dating back to childhood in Alexandria, and mentioned rough memories from times when local fans subjected him to rough treatment—an anecdote underscoring his personal connection to the club.

Election Details and Corporate Strategy

The “Khateeb List” for the presidency has been announced, including Yassin Mansour as vice president and Khaled Mortgi as secretary. Other members across age brackets include Tarik Kandil, Mohamed El Ghazawy, Mohamed El-Dematy, Mohamed El-Gharhy, Ahmed Hesam Awd, Hazem Hilal, and Said Abdullah Hafiz, with younger members Roida Hisham and Ibrahim Al Amendy among them.

The election is scheduled for two days: on the first day, October 30, at least 50% + 1 of all members must attend; if not, a second day on October 31 with up to 5,000 members in attendance will be held.

Governing priorities are “Football and Investment” in equal measure. Khateeb emphasizes that what has been achieved at Al Ahly in recent years is the result of collective effort and loyal service by members in various roles.

He stresses that the club’s leadership must remain within the club, rather than being imported from outside, to ensure timely and appropriate decisions. A professional, efficient internal structure is essential for accountability and success.

Khateeb notes that Al Ahly’s name is a powerful brand, and the club must maintain its status by responsibly managing resources, expanding partnerships, and leveraging a modern strategic approach to athletic performance and revenue generation.

Efforts to diversify income include the establishment of the Al Ahly for Sports Services, the Al Ahly Football Company, and the Al Ahly Facilities Company, which are designed to support the club’s infrastructure and long-term ambitions, including the development of a new stadium for the club as part of its future vision.

Khateeb points to a history of financial growth: the club inherited a budget of around 800 million Egyptian pounds in 2017, which rose to about 2.5 billion by the end of his first term, and has reached approximately 8.5 billion today. He notes that the club has paid for new branch lands outright, without outstanding liabilities, and emphasizes continued growth and investment in the coming years.

He concludes that the next phase requires doubling efforts to align with the scale of expansion in branches and services, while expanding operating expenditure to sustain growth. The club’s motto for the future is to invest for the long term, ensuring resources support future generations of Al Ahly fans and members.

In addition, he highlights that Al Ahly was among the first sports organizations in Egypt to implement a minimum wage for employees, underscoring the club’s commitment to its staff as essential partners in every achievement.

Punchline time: If Al Ahly makes it to Europe, they won’t just bring trophies — they’ll bring a whole passport full of bragging rights. And if they don’t make it, at least their budget can vacation in the Mediterranean with style.