Al Ahly sacked Pitso Mosimane after failing to defend CAF Champions League title

Al Ahly’s current managerial challenges are being likened to the period under Pitso Mosimane, who, despite two successful seasons, left the club after defeat in the CAF Champions League final to Wydad AC.

Mosimane had won the previous two editions of the competition, but even that record could not secure his position.

Now, head coach Jess Thorup faces mounting pressure following Al Ahly’s latest elimination from the tournament.

Egyptian football journalist Mohamed Fares highlighted the club’s history of swift managerial changes, particularly when Champions League ambitions fall short.

“We must understand that if a manager is below the level and pressure of Al Ahly, they won’t even survive until the end of the season,” Fares said on Facebook.

“Even with successful managers like Mosimane and Koller, there was a clear benchmark: losing the CAF Champions League means departure. This is a critical point to remember,” he added.

The journalist also pointed out that Thorup’s contract features an “Early Termination Clause” that benefits only the coach, leaving the club exposed.

He suggested introducing a “Competition Exit Clause” tied to performance in key tournaments.

Under such a provision, Al Ahly could end a manager’s tenure without penalty—or with a pre-agreed reduced compensation—if the club falls short in the CAF Champions League.

This approach, Fares argued, would protect the club while aligning managerial expectations with Al Ahly’s high standards on the continental stage.