Al Ahly punishes players after poor league results ahead of CAF Champions League clash

Al Ahly and El Gaish players vie for the ball during league game.

CAIRO, March 11: Al Ahly, Egypt’s most decorated football club, has imposed financial penalties on its players and launched a full review of all football departments following a disappointing run in the domestic league. The club now turns its attention to a crucial CAF Champions League quarterfinal against Tunisia’s Étoile du Sahel, in which Al Ahly holds the record for the most titles.

On Monday, Al Ahly fell 2-1 to Tala’ea El Gaish in a postponed match, dropping to third place in the league behind rivals Zamalek and Pyramids. Al Ahly now has 40 points from 20 games, while Pyramids and Zamalek top the table with 43 points. Zamalek also has a postponed match against ENPPI pending.

The club announced on its social media platforms that President Mahmoud El Khatib has decided to deduct 30% of first-team players’ salaries and suspend 25% of their contract value until the team’s position in the league and CAF Champions League is clarified.

In addition, Al Ahly has moved up its travel to Tunisia, with the squad departing Cairo Airport on Thursday instead of Friday, giving the coaching staff extra time to prepare for the first leg against Étoile du Sahel.

Vice President Yasser Mansour and board member Sayed Abdel Hafiz have begun evaluating all football department staff, including technical, administrative, and medical teams, and will restructure the sector at all levels—first team, youth teams, women’s football, and academies—to align with the club’s ambitions and satisfy fans’ expectations.

Al Ahly will face Étoile du Sahel in Radès for the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarterfinal early next week, with the return leg scheduled in Cairo later this March.