Al Ahly sweating over Yasser Ibrahim and Ahmed Nabil Kouka ahead of Zamalek clash

Al Ahly are facing a race against time to have Yasser Ibrahim and Ahmed Nabil Kouka available for next Sunday’s Egyptian Premier League showdown against Zamalek.

The Cairo giants are scheduled to face their fierce rivals at Cairo International Stadium on October 11 in the sixth round of the league, with both players currently working their way back from injury.

Kouka is the closer of the two to a return and is expected to resume team training soon as he continues his recovery.

His potential return would provide a boost to Al Ahly ahead of the derby, although the club’s medical and technical teams will need to assess his condition before determining whether he can feature against Zamalek.

Ibrahim, meanwhile, faces a tougher battle to prove his fitness. The experienced defender remains in the rehabilitation phase and has yet to return to full training.

The centre-back is believed to have around a 50 percent chance of playing in the derby, meaning his availability could remain uncertain until the final stages of preparations.

Ibrahim is known for his willingness to push himself when his team needs him, but Al Ahly will be cautious about rushing him back before he is fully ready.

If the defender fails to recover in time, Al Ahly could turn to Hadi Riad or Yassin Marai to fill the gap in central defence.

With one of the biggest fixtures of the Egyptian football calendar approaching, Al Ahly will continue to monitor both Ibrahim and Kouka closely before making a final decision on their participation.