Al Ahly resume training ahead of ENPPI opener after Barcelona camp

Al Ahly have returned to training as they begin preparations for their Egyptian Premier League opener against ENPPI on Sunday.

The match will be played at 20:00 local time, with ENPPI travelling to face Al Ahly in the first round of the competition.

The Al Ahly squad resumed work at El Tetsh Stadium in Gezira on Friday after returning from a pre-season training camp in Spain.

Head coach Houcine Ammouta held a team meeting before the session began, using the presentation to discuss the technical details and requirements of the forthcoming match.

The coaching staff placed particular emphasis on recovery work during Friday’s training. The players had only returned from Spain on Thursday following the conclusion of the club’s preparations for the new season.

Goalkeepers followed a separate programme under the supervision of the goalkeeping coach, while the rest of the squad focused mainly on exercises designed to aid recovery after the overseas camp and the final stages of pre-season.

Al Ahly ended their preparations in Spain with a meeting against Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy. The match was the final fixture of a series of friendly games arranged to prepare the team for the new campaign.

Before travelling to Spain, Al Ahly played friendlies against Al Nasr and Petroleum Asyut in Egypt. Their schedule in Spain included matches against Badalona, Europa and Barcelona.

The return to training marks the beginning of Al Ahly’s immediate preparations for the opening league fixture, with the squad switching its focus from pre-season conditioning to the start of competitive action.

Al Ahly finished third in last season’s competition, behind Zamalek and Pyramids. Their opening-day meeting with ENPPI will therefore provide the first opportunity to assess the team in a competitive match after a summer of preparation and a number of pre-season fixtures.