Al Ahly’s New Era Begins: Turup Names First Local Squad as Injuries Mount for the Ittihad Clash
21 October 2025
Match Preview
The Danish coach Jes Turup has named Al Ahly’s first local squad for the upcoming Egyptian Premier League clash against Al Ittihad in the eleventh round. The match is set to take place in Cairo, with the red squad looking to sustain momentum after a recent coaching change and a string of absences that cloud selection.
Team News and Injuries
The list of players included in the squad features three goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shennawy, Mohamed Seha, and Mustafa Shobier, with the outfield lineup following behind. The players named were Yassin Mar\'i, Omar Kamal Abdul Wahid, Ahmed Ramadan Beckham, Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan, Yasser Ibrahim, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Nets Gradychar, Ahmed Abdelkader, Marwan Attia, Ashraf Ben Sharqi, Mohamed Magdi Afsha, Mustafa El Ash, Aliou Diang, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Taher Mohamed Taher, Mohamed Hany, and Ahmed Nabil Coca. The team will head into a closed camp ahead of the game, with tactical notes to be shared later by the coach.
During preparation, Al Ahly concluded training at Mustafa El Tetsh Stadium and entered a closed camp the night before the match. Turup is planned to give a technical lecture after a dinner at the hotel, outlining the full approach to facing Al Ittihad on Cairo International Stadium turf.
Projected lineups and setup remain a talking point. The defense is expected to feature Mohamed Shnawy in goal with a back line of Mohamed Hani, Yasser Ibrahim, Yasin Mar\'i, and Ahmed Nabil Kouka. Midfield could line up with Marwan Attia, Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan, and Mahmoud Trezeguet, while the attack may include Ahmed Zizo, Ashraf Ben Sharqi, and Nets Gradychar.
Outs and injuries
Jes Turup left out Imam Ashour due to an unresolved viral issue, and also omitted Moroccan Ashraf Dari, Karim Fouad, Hussein Shahat, Mohamed Shukri, Mohamed Sharif, and Hamza Alaa due to injuries or registration limits. The club continues to assess Mohamed Sharif’s availability for the Egyptian Super Cup in the UAE, with medical staff monitoring his condition.
Coach Dr. Ahmed Jabalah confirmed new medical assessments for Ashour and Dari, with Karim Fouad in the final stage of rehabilitation and readying for team training in the near future. Meanwhile, Imam Ashour’s status has shown gradual improvement after a viral issue, with further scans planned to determine full recovery.
Administrative moves
In a decisive pivot, Al Ahly’s management has insisted on a strict policy of renewing contracts only for players whose deals expire at season’s end, refraining from talks on extensions for any current star. The club had contemplated extending Imam Ashour’s contract, but the player’s demands reportedly did not align with the club’s financial framework, and the agent’s public comments further closed the door on negotiations.
A new era
Al Ahly enters a new era under Turup after the dismissal of Jose Ribeiro early in the season due to inconsistent results. Interim coach Emad Al-Nahour steadied the ship, guiding the team to four straight wins, including a 2-1 victory over rivals Zamalek. With 18 points from nine games, Al Ahly sit fourth, but a win against Al Ittihad could lift them to the summit while Ceramica lead with 20 points.
As the team prepares, fans will be watching for signs of resurgence and how the tactical plan translates into the league's next big test. The sense of anticipation around this match is palpable, and the team will be hoping to flip the script and reclaim their title ambitions.
Punchline #1: If Turup’s playbook were a map, it would have more detours than a taxi ride during rush hour—still, at least the scenery is busy.
Punchline #2: The only thing faster than Al Ahly’s lineup changes this week might be a coffee order before a press briefing—swift, caffeinated, and slightly alarming to the uninitiated.
