Al Ahly line-up: Mohamed El Shenawy returns as Imam Ashour starts on bench

Mohamed El Shenawy returns in goal for Al Ahly against Al Mokawloon Al Arab in the Egyptian Premier League, while Imam Ashour has been named among the substitutes after recovering from injury.

The match is being played at Al Mokawloon Al Arab Stadium in the fourth round of the league season. Al Ahly manager Hussein Ammouta has selected Monsef Bekrar and Soufiane Benjdida to lead the attack, with Achraf Bencharki completing the front three.

El Shenawy’s return is the main change in goal for Al Ahly. His inclusion comes as the club face Al Mokawloon Al Arab in a match that forms part of the fourth round of the Egyptian Premier League.

Ashour is available again following his recovery, but Ammouta has opted to begin the game with him on the bench. He is included among the substitutes alongside Mostafa Shobeir, Yassin Marei, Hady Riyad, Ahmed Reda, Akram Tawfik, Hussein El Shahat, Afsha and Aqtay Abdullah.

Al Ahly’s starting XI is:

Goalkeeper: Mohamed El Shenawy

Defenders: Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Amr El Gazar, Ahmed Nabil “Koka”

Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Ali Mahmoud, Ahmed Sayed “Zizo”

Forwards: Monsef Bekrar, Soufiane Benjdida, Achraf Bencharki

The selection gives Al Ahly a three-man attacking unit, with Bekrar and Benjdida positioned as the central attacking options and Bencharki also included in the forward line. In midfield, Marwan Attia, Ali Mahmoud and Zizo have been chosen to start.

The substitutes are:

Mostafa Shobeir, Yassin Marei, Hady Riyad, Ahmed Reda, Akram Tawfik, Hussein El Shahat, Afsha, Imam Ashour and Aqtay Abdullah.

Al Ahly go into the fixture with a perfect league record according to the source article. They won their opening three rounds against Eastern Company, ENPPI, ZED FC and Smouha.

That run has placed further focus on the team’s latest selection, particularly the return of El Shenawy and the decision to keep Ashour among the replacements. While Ashour is not in the starting line-up, his presence gives Ammouta another midfield option during the match.

The game at Al Mokawloon Al Arab Stadium therefore begins with Al Ahly relying on El Shenawy behind a defence of Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Amr El Gazar and Ahmed Nabil “Koka”. Attia, Ali Mahmoud and Zizo form the midfield, while Bekrar, Benjdida and Bencharki are tasked with providing the attacking threat.