Countdown to Comeback: Will Imam Ashour Return in 48 Hours?

Imam Ashour's Health and the 48-Hour Window

Al Ahly announced that the next 48 hours will be decisive for Imam Ashour, the team’s midfield asset, who has been out with a viral infection that required medical isolation at the hospital and at home until he fully recovers.

Dr. Ahmed Gaballah, the club’s chief physician, said a fresh medical test will be conducted in the coming hours to accurately assess his condition, confirm his recovery, and outline a gradual rehabilitation plan before returning to group training.

He added that recent analyses show clear improvement in his health and that the medical staff will monitor his status daily to ensure full readiness before any training actions.

Al Ahly's Training Return and Squad Updates

Al Ahly returned to full group training on Monday afternoon at Mokhtar El-Tetsh Stadium in Cairo in preparation for the upcoming league clash with Petrojet on Wednesday. The session followed a 24-hour rest granted by the coaching staff after their victory over Eagle Nuar in the CAF Champions League Round of 32 second leg at Cairo International Stadium.

During the session, players performed intensive conditioning in the gym before moving to the pitch for technical and tactical work. Mohamed El Shennawy, the captain, rejoined the training group after recovering from a cold that sidelined him from the Eagle Nuar tie.

The workout saw the return of three key players: Mohamed Shenawe, Karim Fouad, and Ahmed Mustafa Zizou, all back from various injuries. Shenawe had missed the last match due to a severe cold and fatigue, Fouad was sidelined by a muscular issue, and Zizou was continuing a hamstring rehab, with the coaching staff managing his reintegration carefully.

Injury updates indicated that Moroccan defender Ashraf Dari will undergo additional scans in the coming hours to set a timeline for his return to group training after suffering an adductor tear. It was also noted that forward Mohamed Sherif has begun light jogging around the pitch as part of his gradual return to full training.

Regarding Hussein El Shahat, medical staff said he will need at least five more weeks before rejoining group training, despite showing notable improvement in recent scans and ongoing rehab to reach full match fitness.

The team also announced travel to the United Arab Emirates on November 4 for the Egyptian Super Cup, scheduled to run from November 6 to 9. The four participants are Al Ahly (league champions), Pyramids FC (Golden Card holder), Zamalek (Egypt Cup winner), and Ceramica Cleopatra (Cup winners). Al Ahly will meet Ceramica Cleopatra on November 6 in Al Ain at Sheikh Zayed Stadium for the first semi-final, while Zamalek will face Pyramids in the second semi-final at Al Wahda Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The final is set for November 9 at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with the third-place match at Al Wahda Stadium on the same day. Said Abdelhafiz, the head of football, is slated to lead the delegation in the UAE following his official approval in the upcoming board elections.

Separately, Al Ahly submitted an official complaint to CAF regarding decisions by Senegalese referee Issa Se in the return leg against Eagle Nuar. The club argued that several influential errors affected the result, notably a controversial red card to striker Nets Gradychar and the failure to send off a rival who attacked Ahly defender Ahmed Ramadan Bekham, forcing the team to play with ten men for over 75 minutes. The club requested the red card be overturned, citing video evidence and the broader need for fair play and integrity in African competitions.