Saudi Arabia coach considers resting Al-Ahli players for Gulf Cup 27 opener

Georgios Donis is considering leaving Al-Ahli Saudi FC players out of Saudi Arabia’s opening match against Kuwait at Gulf Cup 27 because they will have only a short time to recover from club commitments.

The Al-Ahli players selected for the national squad are due to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Intercontinental Cup on 19 September. Saudi Arabia’s opening Gulf Cup fixture against Kuwait is scheduled for 23 September, leaving only four days between the two matches.

According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah, Donis is weighing up whether to rest the Al-Ahli players included in his squad rather than use them in the tournament opener. Their late arrival at the national team camp is understood to be the main reason behind the potential decision.

The players will not join Saudi Arabia’s preparations at the start of the camp. Instead, they will remain with Al-Ahli until after the club’s meeting with South African side Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria on 19 September.

They are expected to join the national team after Al-Ahli’s delegation returns to Saudi Arabia on the evening of 21 September. That would give the players roughly two days with the national side before the match against Kuwait at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

The limited preparation time has made resting them for the opening fixture a realistic option for Donis and his coaching staff. The report does not state whether the players would be excluded from the squad altogether or simply omitted from the starting line-up against Kuwait.

Saudi Arabia will begin its Gulf Cup 27 campaign on 23 September before facing Oman three days later. Their final group match is against Iraq on 29 September.

The Saudi Pro League had already announced changes to the domestic fixture schedule to support the national team’s extended preparation period. Rounds eight, nine and 10 were rescheduled after a request linked to the squad’s preparations.

Round eight had originally been due to take place between 17 and 19 September. It has now been moved to 9-11 October, allowing the national team more time to prepare for Gulf Cup 27 and easing the clash between domestic fixtures and Al-Ahli’s involvement in the Intercontinental Cup.

The timing of Al-Ahli’s continental fixture remains central to the selection issue. The club’s match against Mamelodi Sundowns will be played in Pretoria on 19 September, while the Saudi squad is scheduled to face Kuwait in Jeddah four days later. Donis must therefore decide whether the players can contribute so soon after travelling back to Saudi Arabia or whether they should be protected for the later matches against Oman and Iraq.