Al Ahly name squad for Al Mokawloon clash as Zizo, Emam Ashour miss out

Al Ahly have announced their squad for Monday’s League Cup encounter against Al Mokawloon Al Arab, with Ahmed Mostafa Zizo and Emam Ashour among the notable absentees.

The Egyptian giants will host Al Mokawloon at the Cairo International Stadium in their second Group Three fixture, hoping to maintain their impressive start to the competition.

Al Ahly opened their campaign with a convincing 5-0 victory over Petrojet Assiut, while Al Mokawloon secured a 2-0 win against El Gouna in their opening match.

Both sides have three points, with Al Ahly leading the group on goal difference.

Head coach Hussein Ammouta will be targeting another victory as his side seek to strengthen their position at the top of the standings.

However, Al Ahly will have to cope without several key players, including Zizo, Emam Ashour and Hussein El Shahat, who is sidelined with an injury.

The club’s medical team confirmed that El Shahat had complained of pain in his lower abdominal muscles and had been advised to rest for 48 hours. He is expected to undergo further medical examinations to assess his condition and recovery.

Midfielder Marwan Attia was also rested from Sunday’s group training session as part of the club’s preparations for the encounter.

Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy is another notable absentee, leaving Mostafa Shobeir and Hamza Alaa as the two goalkeepers named in the squad.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Hany returns after missing Al Ahly’s previous two matches.

Other players unavailable for the fixture include left-back Tawfiq Mohamed, midfielders Ahmed Khaled Kabaka and Omar Al-Saai, and striker Aktai Abdullah.

Al Ahly squad

Goalkeepers: Mostafa Shobeir, Hamza Alaa.

Defenders: Yassin Marei, Ashraf Dari, Ahmed Eid, Hadi Riad, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany, Karim Fouad, Ahmed Nabil Kouka.

Midfielders: Ahmed Reda, Mohamed Magdy Afsha, Akram Tawfik, Ali Mahmoud, Taher Mohamed Taher, Mahmoud Salah, Mohamed Abdallah, Bencharki, Omar Sayed Moawad.

Forwards: Mounsef Bekarar, Sofiane Benjedida, Mohamed Raafat.

Al Ahly are in Group Three alongside Al Mokawloon Al Arab, Petrojet Assiut, El-Sharkia Enppi and El Gouna.

The two sides previously met in the Egyptian Premier League this season, playing out a 1-1 draw on 9 September.

The game will be officiated by Mohamed Maarouf, who will be assisted by Magid Al-Maliji and Ahmed Bakr. Mahmoud Hussein will serve as the fourth official.

Mahmoud Nasef will oversee the video assistant referee (VAR) system, with Alaa Sabry serving as assistant VAR.