The Palestinian striker, Wessam Abu Ali, currently playing for Syrianska FC in Sweden, is on the verge of joining Egypt’s Al Ahly officially, bolstering the ranks of the African champions in the ongoing winter transfer window.
Al Ahly, grappling with missed scoring opportunities in recent matches, has turned to the 25-year-old forward to fortify its attacking line.
In the potential deal with Abu Ali, Al Ahly benefits from his status as a local Palestinian player in the Egyptian league, sparing the Red Castles the loss of one of their foreign player slots.
However, questions have arisen in the past hours, particularly concerning Abu Ali’s medical history and his injuries before joining Al Ahly.
Speculations have circulated about his previous struggles with heart issues.
In this report, Kooora delves into the medical file of the new recruit and the anticipated Al Ahly deal with Wessam Abu Ali:
Previous Challenges
A review of Wessam Abu Ali’s injury and absence record through the specialized statistics site “Transfermarkt” reveals that the Palestinian-Danish player was sidelined for 12 days between September 1 to September 13, 2019, due to a groin injury.
Abu Ali was absent for 28 days between September 27, 2020, to October 25, 2020, due to an undisclosed injury.
He then suffered from COVID-19 between January 3 to January 17, 2021.
He missed the green pitch again from February 12 to March 4, 2021, due to an unspecified injury, followed by a 201-day absence from September 11, 2021, to March 31, 2022, due to heart problems, as described by the website.
His last absence was between February 15 to March 15, 2022, due to rib and lung contusions, and he has not been absent from the field since.
Banoun Scenario
Wessam Abu Ali’s impressive performance with his previous team became a pivotal factor encouraging Al Ahly to finalize the deal.
The player participated in 50 matches, scoring 26 goals, and contributing to two goals in the last season.
The player underwent medical examinations in Denmark, with additional tests scheduled in Cairo under the directives of Mahmoud El Khatib, Al Ahly’s president, who emphasized a focus on this crucial aspect.
Some have drawn parallels between Abu Ali’s prolonged absence and the experience of former Al Ahly defender Badr Banoun.
Banoun, who faced complications after contracting COVID-19, was absent for 120 days during the 2021-2022 season in a similar scenario.
Banoun eventually returned to the pitch, participating in the World Cup with the Moroccan national team and later playing for Qatar’s Al Gharafa after leaving Al Ahly.
Yaakoubo’s Shock
On the flip side of potential transfers, doubts loom, as seen in the case of Ghanaian Abdul Aziz Yaakoubo, the former striker for Rio Ave in Portugal, who was on the brink of joining Al Ahly in January 2023.
The deal fell through in the final stages due to Yaakoubo’s failure to pass medical tests, attributed to an old knee injury.
This aborted transfer came as a shock to Al Ahly supporters, especially considering Yaakoubo’s subsequent standout performance with Wuhan Three Towns in China.
