Al Ahly head of scouting, Hany Ramzy, has questioned Jose Riveiro’s squad selection after being held to a stalemate against Modern Sport FC in their opener of the 2025/26 Premier League.
The Red Devils were held to a surprising 2-2 draw against Modern Sport FC at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday.
After the match, Ramzy, an Egyptian football legend, questioned Riveiro’s squad selection, pointing to players he believes would have secured a more convincing result for the coach.
“Modern Sport coach Magdy Abdel-Ati was able to close the spaces and play a strong defensive style, while Al-Ahly was determined to play from deep, which was wrong. It would have been better to rely on the flanks,” Ramzy said per Aldawla News.
“Trezeguet and Zizo play mainly in the middle, while Mohamed Shoukry and Mohamed Hany are not present on the flanks, which is wrong and helped Modern Sport’s game plan.
“Even Mohamed Sherif didn’t perform well because he played in the middle of the crowd and never received the ball because he was being watched by three players. He received the ball in the middle and lost it easily under the heavy pressure from the opposing defenders.
“Mohamed Hany’s performance in some matches is average, and I think his capabilities should be exploited. It would be better for Zizo to play on the right side. Al-Ahly has many stars, and there must be a squad capable of playing as a starter in the coming period,” he explained.
“Riveiro did not read the opponent well, and the substitutions were late. Aliou Dieng must return to the starting lineup because he plays at a fast pace. He has several advantages, including strength and speed.
“The slow pace at which Al Ahly played helped Modern Sport implement its game plan. The ambitions of Al Ahly fans are very high, but there is no such thing as winning every match by a large score. The team had negative possession most of the time against Modern Sport.”
With title expectations sky-high and a demanding fanbase watching closely, pressure is already mounting on Riveiro to deliver positive results before frustration begins to boil over.
Ahly will hope to secure their first win of the season when they face Pharco FC on Friday at the Cairo International Stadium.
