The Egyptian giants' exit from the CAF Champions League has sparked scrutiny of Danish coach Jess Thorup, driven by media and fan criticism.
What happened on the continent stage
Al Ahly, Africa's most decorated club, bowed out in the quarterfinals after a 2-3 defeat to the Tunisian Espérance de Tunis in Tunis, marking a painful continental setback for the red giants.
That result left the aggregate at 2-4, following a 0-1 defeat in Tunisia in the first leg, turning a promising campaign into a wake up call.
The road ahead for Thorup
Egyptian outlets reported the board has decided to sack Thorup and reinstall Hossam Al-Badry, who currently oversees Al Ahli Tripoli, as part of a potential reset.
But journalist Ahmed Abdelbaset claimed on a Facebook live that Thorup would leave only under one condition.
That condition would be a mutual termination with three months' salary, followed by replacing him with an Egyptian coach.
Abdelbaset warned that if Thorup rejects amicable exit, he could finish the season with a knife in his back, losing the administration's trust.
The journalist also suggested the scenario could echo Marcel Koller's late-season tinkering, a reminder that reshuffling ideas late in the journey can backfire spectacularly.
Beyond a friendly exit, finishing the current season remains the most plausible outcome, with many wondering whether patience will win over pressure.
Thorup won't depart under any other scenario because his contract protects him with a clause guaranteeing full pay if dismissed in his first season.
Two closing lines: if you're going to have a knife in your back, at least make sure it's your boss who compromised the blade. Thorup's job security? Bulletproof on paper—in coaching terms, anyway.
