Al Ahly appoint Tarek Kandil to lead Spain camp delegation ahead of Barcelona clash

Al Ahly have appointed board member Tarek Kandil to lead the club’s football delegation during their pre-season camp in Spain, which will include a meeting with Barcelona at Camp Nou.

The Egyptian club’s board, headed by Mahmoud El Khatib, confirmed that Kandil will take charge of the delegation as Al Ahly prepare to travel on Thursday, 6 August.

The training camp will run until 20 August and will form part of the team’s preparations for the new season. Its main fixture will be a match against Barcelona on 19 August in the 61st edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy.

The game will give Al Ahly the opportunity to face one of the biggest clubs in world football in a fixture that is also a significant event in Barcelona’s annual calendar.

Although the Joan Gamper Trophy is a friendly competition, it is regarded by Barcelona supporters as an annual celebration marking the start of a new season. It is also the official occasion during which the Catalan club presents its squad to its fans.

The tournament was first held in 1966 on the initiative of then-Barcelona president Enric Llaudet. It was created in honour of Joan Gamper, the Swiss founder of Barcelona, who established the club in 1899 and played a central role in laying its foundations before it developed into one of the world’s leading clubs.

The competition has been staged every year since its creation and has become a longstanding part of Barcelona’s pre-season programme.

In its early years, the tournament featured four teams. The format consisted of semi-finals, a final and a match to decide third place.

Barcelona changed the structure in 1997, reducing the event to a single fixture between the Catalan club and an invited opponent. That format remains in place.

Al Ahly’s trip to Spain comes as the club also awaits the draw for the Egyptian Premier League. The draw is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 5 August, one day before the team’s departure for its overseas preparations.

The match against Barcelona on 19 August will represent a new chapter in Al Ahly’s history and will be played as part of the 61st Joan Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou. The Egyptian side’s camp will then conclude on 20 August, following two weeks of preparation in Spain.