Ayman Al-Kashif to commentate on Al Ahly’s Barcelona clash

Ayman Al-Kashif will provide commentary for Al Ahly’s meeting with Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy, with the match to be shown on ON Sport in the Middle East and North Africa.

ON Sport announced the broadcast on its official account, saying: “Exclusively in the Middle East and North Africa, Al Ahly and Barcelona’s match on ON Sport channels.”

Al-Kashif also welcomed the assignment, writing: “An exceptional event at a moment of launch, with everyone waiting and longing. We meet, dearest friends, in the most beautiful encounter: Al Ahly against Barcelona on ON Sport.”

The match will take place on 19 August at Camp Nou, where Al Ahly will face Barcelona as part of the Egyptian club’s preparations for the new season.

Al Ahly are due to hold their pre-season camp in Spain, with the fixture against the Catalan club forming the centrepiece of their preparations. The game will be played in the 61st edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy, one of the best-known friendly competitions in European football.

Although the tournament is not a competitive domestic or continental competition, it is an annual celebration for Barcelona supporters and serves as the official occasion when the club presents its squad to fans ahead of a new campaign.

The Joan Gamper Trophy was established in 1966 on the initiative of Barcelona president Enric Llaudet. It was created in honour of the club’s Swiss founder, Joan Gamper, who established Barcelona in 1899 and laid the foundations for the institution that would later become one of the biggest clubs in world football.

The tournament has been held every year since its creation and has become a regular part of Barcelona’s calendar before the start of the season.

In its early years, the competition featured four teams. The format included semi-finals, a final and a match to decide third and fourth place.

Barcelona changed the structure in 1997, reducing the tournament to a single match between the Catalan club and an invited opponent. That format remains in place.

Al Ahly will also be preparing for the beginning of the Egyptian Premier League, which starts on 21 August. The first round of the competition is scheduled to conclude on 20 February.

The club’s opening league fixture will be against Eastern Company ENPPI, while their final match of the first round will be against Wadi Degla.

Al Ahly will play 13 of their 19 matches in the opening phase at Cairo Stadium. Their meeting with Barcelona will therefore provide a high-profile test before the club turns its attention to the domestic campaign.

The Joan Gamper fixture will give Al Ahly the opportunity to add a notable chapter to their history while facing one of the most prominent clubs in world football at Barcelona’s home stadium.