Al Ahli face Mamelodi Sundowns with their season at a critical crossroads

Al Ahli Saudi FC meet South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the Intercontinental Cup knowing another setback could deepen the uncertainty surrounding a season that has fallen well short of expectations.

The club have undergone major changes in recent months, with several of their leading players departing. Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessie were among those to leave, while German manager Matthias Jaissle’s time in charge also came to an end.

Dutch coach Marino Pusic was appointed only days before the start of the season, leaving him to begin a new era with limited time to prepare and a number of unanswered questions surrounding the team.

So far, Al Ahli have failed to produce the level their supporters had expected. The side appear to have lost some of the strength they showed last season, while technical and administrative problems have affected the club during the opening weeks of the campaign.

The situation became more complicated with the departure of sporting director Pedro. His exit followed a period in which supporters had expressed their anger at the way the sporting operation was being managed.

The continued changes have come at a time when Al Ahli need stability and the opportunity to build a team capable of competing for major honours.

Their league position has also increased the pressure. Al Ahli are sixth in the Roshn Saudi League after recording four wins and three defeats, a return that does not match the ambitions of a side aiming to challenge for trophies.

A chance to change the mood

Against that backdrop, the meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns offers Al Ahli an opportunity to alter the atmosphere around the club.

Victory and a triumph in the Intercontinental Cup, described as a “half-the-world” title, could transform the team’s mood and restore some confidence among both the players and the supporters.

Success in a major competition would give Pusic and his squad significant momentum for the rest of the season. It could also ease the criticism directed at the team and provide the club’s management with greater room to address the problems that have emerged in recent months.

However, elimination by Mamelodi Sundowns would intensify the pressure on Al Ahli, particularly if it followed the performances and results that have failed to convince supporters since the campaign began.

A defeat could also reopen several unresolved issues within the club at a sensitive moment, leaving the management under greater scrutiny and increasing the demand for swift action.

The match therefore represents a genuine turning point for Al Ahli. Winning the trophy could mark the beginning of a recovery in confidence and offer a route towards correcting their season, while defeat would leave the club facing a more difficult period and force its officials to respond quickly to the problems that have surfaced since the start of the campaign.