Aliou Dieng’s timely return eases Al Ahly concerns

Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng has returned to Cairo to rejoin Al Ahly’s full training schedule ahead of a crucial phase in the season.

He arrived back in the Egyptian capital on Tuesday after a short break in his homeland following the team’s match against ASFAR in Morocco.​

A source inside Al Ahly explained that the club hierarchy asked Dieng to cut his vacation short because the official international window does not begin until 15 December, meaning he was not entitled to remain on leave until that date. The player had initially been granted permission to delay his return by only three days beyond the start of training.​

Despite this, the club refused to extend his time off and insisted on his immediate comeback so he could be involved in the sessions. The technical staff, led by Hugo Vieira, is counting on Dieng for the clash with ENPPI on Friday in the opening round of the Egypt Capital Cup, and he is expected to be in the coach’s plans as normal.​

In parallel, Al Ahly officials are preparing for a new meeting with Dieng and his agent in the coming hours to continue talks over a contract renewal. His current deal runs out at the end of this season, making his future a priority issue for the club’s management.​