Injury Storm Hits Al Ahli: Four Holes in the Fort as Damac Breaks Through

Injury storms hit Al Ahli’s defense

Al Ahli Jeddah’s backline has been shattered by injuries, marking a fourth setback in the Roshen Saudi Pro League clash with Damac. The match was played at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, where a 53rd-minute substitution saw Roger Ibanez leave the field after attempting to continue following his return from Brazil duty.

Ibanez, back from international duty in March, tried to soldier on but could not, making way for Mohammed Suleiman Bakr. The setback compounds an ongoing defensive crisis, with the team already missing key full-backs Ali Majrashi and Zakaria Hosawi due to international duty and Merih Demiral out prior to the window.

To cover the gaps, German coach Mathias Jaissle had to lean on four players not typically in the regular backline: Mohammed Abdulrahman and Mateo Dams on the flanks, with Ryan Hamid Bakr and Zakaria Hosawi stepping in between them. The reshuffle highlights the depth issues facing Al Ahli as injuries bite hard.

Al Ahli will host Al Fayha next in the 29th round before heading into the AFC Champions League knockout stage against Al Duhail on April 13, a schedule that will test the squad’s resilience in the coming weeks.

Outlook and next fixtures

With a string of important matches on the horizon, Al Ahli must rally quickly and rely on squad depth to navigate the congested fixtures and Asian competition pressure.

Punchline time: If injuries were a tactic, Al Ahli would be running a full squad of healers rather than a back four. And yes, the physio deserves a standing ovation for all the red cards to medical leave they’ve handed out.

Punchline 2: At this rate, their defense will need a map to locate its own four players—preferably with a spotlight on where they’ve vanished to this season.