Al Ahly’s Injury Updates, Group Stage Spark, and a Kickoff Comeback for CAF CL Clash
15 November 2025
Key updates ahead of the CAF CL opener
Al Ahly has contacted the national team’s medical staff to ensure the wellbeing of Ahmed Sayed Zizo, the team’s red-hot winger. Zizo is reported to be dealing with tendon pain around the knee and will need a brief rest of two days.
Upon his return to Cairo, he will undergo a medical examination and attend the Mokhtar El-Tetsh Stadium on the following Wednesday for further assessment.
There are efforts to gear up Mahmoud Hassan Trezyghe (Trezeguet) for the Shabab Kabylie clash, with the player following an intensive rehabilitation program to reach match fitness for the weekend opener in the CAF Champions League.
The club notes a positive update on Yassin Mar’i, the defender, who is dealing with an ankle bruise and muscular fatigue but is expected to be ready for the game against JS Kabylie.
Also, Imam Ashour’s potential involvement on the bench or even on the trip to Morocco to face the Royal Army (AS FAR Rabat) is under consideration as part of the squad rotation plan. The team resumed full training on Saturday at the Mokhtar Teh stadium after a five-day resting period following the Super Cup win in the UAE.
Group stage draw and schedule
Al Ahly were drawn into Group B for the 2025-2026 CAF Champions League, alongside Young Africans (Tanzania), JS Kabylie (Algeria), and the Royal Moroccan Army club (AS FAR Rabat). The other groups include a lineup featuring Renaissance Berkane, Pyramids, Rivers United, and Power Dynamos in Group A and Sundowns, Al-Hilal, MC Alger, and Saint Eloi Lupopo in Group C, with Group D including Espérance Tunis, Simba, Petro de Luanda, and Stade Malien.
Al Ahly’s campaign starts with a home match against JS Kabylie on November 22 at Cairo International Stadium, followed by a trip to face AS FAR Rabat on November 28 at their stadium.
League schedule and other notes
The Egyptian Premier League has announced the delay of three fixtures from Matchday 14 to accommodate the CAF schedule for the group stage. The changes place Modern Sport vs. Al Ahly Bank on the same date at the Peace Stadium, with other reshuffles including Al Ahly vs. Ismaili at Burj Al Arab Stadium on February 11 and the Zamalek vs. Sphinx game moved to Cairo Stadium on February 12.
Separately, the league announced adjustments for the Egyptian Cup and league fixtures, reflecting the congested calendar as CAF competition dates take priority.
A troubling moment and a call for ethics
In a related development, Al Ahly filed a formal complaint with the Egyptian Football Association, seeking urgent investigation into alleged unsporting behavior by Zamalek fans towards Ahmed Sayed Zizo during the Egyptian Super Cup final in Abu Dhabi. The club highlighted insulting chants witnessed by officials and stressed the need to safeguard players’ rights and the sport’s integrity.
In their statement, Al Ahly underscored that such incidents recur and demand deterrence and enforcement of regulations to preserve fair play and ethical standards in football.
Punchline time
Punchline 1: If rest were a tactic, Zizo’s two days off might just be the new “injury time”—and it would still win the crowd over. Punchline 2: When in doubt, blame the knee—it never carded anyone, but it definitely keeps the drama on tempo.
