With the FIFA Club World Cup fast approaching, Egyptian giants Al Ahly are grappling with a foreign player overload that could derail their plans.
Club sources reveal they currently have eight foreign players—three above the limit set by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), which only allows five per squad.
This includes Moroccans Yahya Attallah, Ashraf Ben Chergui, Ashraf Dary, Reda Selim; Tunisians Ali Maaloul and Mohamed El Dawi Christo; Malian midfielder Alieu Dieng; and Slovenian forward Nets Gradishar. Palestinian Wissam Abu Ali, however, is exempt as he is registered as a local.
Complicating matters, Al Ahly are keen to sign Tunisian midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan from Hungary’s Ferencvarosi. To make room, the club is considering offloading Christo, who underperformed during a loan spell in Tunisia.
The club has also opted not to keep Moroccan defender Attallah once his loan from Sochi ends. Meanwhile, Maaloul’s contract will not be renewed, and Dieng could be sold after impressing in Saudi Arabia.
Al Ahly plan to resolve the issue this month to stay compliant and competitive.
