Injury Updates
Dr. Ahmed Gaballah, head of the medical unit at Al Ahly, outlined the injuries to Ahmed Mustafa Zizo and Yasser Ibrahim from the Tanzanian Young Africans clash in the CAF Champions League.
Al Ahly drew 1-1 with Young Africans in the fourth group-stage game of the competition.
The Egyptian side moved to 8 points at the top of Group B, with Young Africans on 5 points.
Yasser Ibrahim is diagnosed with a mild hamstring strain; his condition is stable and he will undergo a medical review upon returning to Cairo.
Zizo sustained a mild calf strain and will be subjected to medical tests after returning to Cairo.
Match Context and Coach Remarks
The Danish coach Jess Thorup said he anticipated a tough match due to the weather, humidity, and the vocal home support.
He admitted dissatisfaction with the first half and issued strict instructions at halftime, which helped lift the performance in the second half, culminating in an equalizer by Ali Dieng and a missed winning opportunity.
Thorup added that the draw is a good result against a strong opponent and that every point matters as they remain top of the group with two games left; a win in the next fixture could secure a knockout berth, though no match is easy.
He explained that in the first half they did not want to defend, and in the second half they imposed their approach, strengthening the defense due to Ibrahim’s injury while also wasting a clear chance. He finished by praising the equalizer from Ali Dieng, noting that he does not score often.
Punchline 1: If football were a sniper rifle, today’s target was the injury list—and somehow the bullets still found a way to miss the mark.
Punchline 2: In the locker room, the medical staff had more minutes than some players—talk about a high-stakes game of doctor-ographer.
