Moroccan coach Hossam El Badry, technical director of Al-Ahly Club, spoke about his team's dramatic victory against Smouha, revealing the reason behind Imam Ashour's absence from recent matches.
Al-Ahly defeated Smouha 1-0 thanks to a powerful strike by Yasser Ibrahim in the 87th minute during the third round of the Premier League.
El Badry stated in the press conference: "I expected a difficult match against Smouha, and unfortunately, the goal came late despite our complete control of the game."
He added: "We didn't handle our chances well enough, but the players' determination and pressure in the final minutes secured the win for us, and the most important thing was earning the three points."
He continued: "I believe the performance was good because we controlled the match, with possession exceeding 70%, and we created 13 or 14 chances. Mostafa Shobeir faced no real danger, and the match was in Al-Ahly's favor."
He further noted: "We need more attacking efficiency, and it's crucial to capitalize on the opportunities available to us."
He concluded: "The collective performance is good, the team is still developing, and the coaching staff is continuously working to correct mistakes."
El Badry pointed out that Ahmed Sayed Zizo is giving his all and working hard for the team, emphasizing that scoring goals is everyone's responsibility and that delayed goals can happen in any match.
The Al-Ahly coach stressed that Imam Ashour needs more participation in team training sessions to reach the appropriate physical rhythm after a long absence from training due to his injury at the World Cup.
He also clarified that Imam Ashour could potentially return before the international break.
Imam Ashour has not appeared in any of Al-Ahly's matches this season so far, having missed games against Sharqia, ENPPI, ZED, and Smouha.
