Hussein Ammouta, head coach of Al-Ahly, emphasized that the door for Yasser Ibrahim's departure from the team is closed.
Hussein Ammouta
Club: Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly defeated Enppi by three goals to two in their opening match of the Egyptian Premier League.
Ammouta said during the post-match press conference: "The match was difficult; we conceded two goals despite being dominant, and several factors affected the team."
He continued, "Regarding not signing a defender? As you know, Ashraf Dari has been registered, so we might see him with the team."
He added, "Yasser Ibrahim was not fully available, especially since he delivered an outstanding performance at the World Cup. His departure file is closed following the club's statement five days ago announcing the closure of negotiations for any player."
He continued, "Imam Ashour has not recovered from his injury. He is a great player, but he did not participate fully in training and was not physically ready, so we couldn't involve him for fear of aggravating his injury. Certainly, he is a top player and indeed requested to play, but I informed him that I could only field him once he is fully fit."
He added, "Al-Ahly is a major club with a massive fanbase, and everyone within it seeks to win titles. Today was a difficult start, and I knew it would be so."
He further stated, "The players have returned from national duty after a long camp, and we are trying to utilize each player in multiple positions. We might see Zizo playing as a midfielder or an attacking playmaker."
He stressed, "Ali Mahmoud possesses good potential, and his future looks bright."
He concluded, "I do not underestimate the efforts of the players who started the match; they gave a tremendous effort. Substitutions are always beneficial, and the entire team deserves credit for securing the result. We must also remember that the team recently returned from travel after the friendly against Barcelona."
Al-Ahly will face ZED in their second league match.
