Cairo football giants Al Ahly have revealed their 28-man squad as they gear up to defend their CAF Champions League title for the new season. The Red Devils will kick off their campaign later this month with a two-leg tie against Kenya’s Gor Mahia in the second preliminary round of the competition.
The first leg of the encounter will take place on September 13th in Nairobi, with Al Ahly hosting the return leg in Cairo a week later.
As the reigning African champions, Al Ahly will be aiming for a strong start in their bid to retain the coveted trophy.
Head coach Marcel Koller has named a strong squad for the competition, but there were some notable absentees, with the most significant being Tunisian left-back Ali Maaloul.
Maaloul, a key player in recent seasons, was omitted from the squad after suffering a long-term injury last season, which has ruled him out for an extended period.
In contrast, several new signings made the cut for the Champions League squad.
Moroccan defenders Achraf Dari and Yahia Attiyat Allah, who joined during the summer, were both included, alongside Youssef Ayman and Omar El-Saaiy, the latter arriving on deadline day.
These new additions are expected to strengthen Al Ahly’s backline as they face the challenges ahead in the continental competition.
Al Ahly’s 28-man squad for the CAF Champions League:
Goalkeepers:
- Mohamed El-Shenawy
- Mostafa Shobeir
- Hamza Alaa
- Mostafa Makhlouf
Defenders:
- Khaled Abdel-Fattah
- Yasser Ibrahim
- Ramy Rabia
- Achraf Dari
- Youssef Ayman
- Karim El-Debes
- Omar Kamal
- Yahia Attiyat Allah
Midfielders:
- Akram Tawfik
- Amr El-Sulya
- Ahmed Nabil Kouka
- Marwan Ateya
- Mohamed Magdy Afsha
- Emam Ashour
- Karim Walid ‘Nedved’
- Mohamed Abdullah
- Omar El-Saaiy
Forwards:
- Hussein El-Shahat
- Percy Tau
- Mahmoud Kahraba
- Taher Mohamed Taher
- Reda Slim
- Wessam Abou Ali
Al Ahly are widely regarded as the most successful club in African football, boasting a record number of CAF Champions League titles.
Their squad this season reflects a blend of experience and new talent, providing a solid foundation as they seek to add another trophy to their illustrious history.
Despite the absence of Maaloul, the Red Devils remain formidable contenders in the competition, with key players like Mohamed El-Shenawy, Hussein El-Shahat, and Percy Tau expected to play pivotal roles.
The road to retaining their title begins with the challenge posed by Gor Mahia, and Al Ahly will be keen to assert their dominance early in the competition.
As they prepare for the upcoming fixtures, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if they can replicate their past successes and continue their reign as the kings of African football.
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