Al Ahly depart for Spain preseason without Algeria midfielder Mounsef Bekar

Al Ahly’s Algerian midfielder Mounsef Bekar was the notable absentee as the Egyptian giants departed Cairo for their pre-season training camp in Spain, sparking questions over his failure to travel with the team.

The Red Eagles left Egypt on Thursday as part of their preparations for the 2026/27 season, with the squad set to undergo an intensive training programme and play a number of friendly matches during their stay in Spain.

The camp, which will run until August 20, is expected to be a crucial period for new head coach Hussein Ammouta as he works on improving the team’s physical condition, tactical approach and chemistry between established players and recent arrivals.

According to reports, Bekar was not present in Cairo at the time of the delegation’s departure, which prevented him from travelling with the first group heading to Spain.

But the Algerian player is expected to join the Al Ahly delegation directly in Spain in the coming days, where he will link up with his teammates and continue preparations ahead of the new season.

Bekar’s late arrival means he will miss the opening phase of the overseas camp but remains part of Ammouta’s plans as Al Ahly prepare for a demanding campaign across domestic and continental competitions.

The Al Ahly delegation to Spain is being led by club board member Tarek Kandil, who was appointed by the management to oversee the trip. The travelling squad includes several of the club’s new signings, including Sofiane Ben Jedida, Ali Mahmoud and Aktai Abdellah.

Meanwhile, several players were left out of the camp following recent departures. Omar Kamal Abdel Wahed is no longer part of the squad after terminating his contract with the club, while Slovenian striker Nejc Gradisar has moved to Ceramica Cleopatra. Tunisian midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane has also left following his transfer to Qatari side Al Shamal.

The Spain camp will provide Ammouta and his technical staff with an opportunity to assess the squad ahead of the new season, with particular focus on integrating the new arrivals and building a balanced team capable of competing on all fronts.

One of the highlights of Al Ahly’s preparations will be their friendly match against Spanish giants Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy, a prestigious fixture that will offer the Egyptian champions a major test before the start of official competitions.

With preparations now underway in Spain, Al Ahly will be hoping the training camp provides the foundation for another successful season as they continue their pursuit of domestic and continental honours.

Al Ahly squad travelling to Spain:

Goalkeepers:

Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, Hamza Alaa

Defenders:

Yasser Ibrahim, Hadi Riyad, Amr El Gazzar, Yassin Marei, Mohamed Hany, Karim Fouad, Ahmed Eid, Youssef Belamri, Karim Debbis, Omar Sayed Moawad

Midfielders:

Marwan Attia, Ahmed Reda, Ahmed Kabaka, Ahmed Koka, Omar El Saai, Emam Ashour, Ali Mahmoud, Mohamed Magdy Afsha, Ashraf Bencharki, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Hussein El Shahat, Taher Mohamed Taher, Mohamed Abdallah, Mounsef Bekar

Attackers:

Sofiane Ben Jedida, Aktai Abdellah, Mohamed Raafat