African champions Al Ahly have officially withdrawn from the 2023/24 Egypt Cup citing exhaustion and disagreement over the schedule.
The Egyptian Football Association Competitions Committee announced the remaining stages of the 2023/24 Egypt Cup will take place following the conclusion of the Premier League.
This led to the objection of several clubs, led by Al Ahly, due to the lack of rest, given that the team hasn’t had a long break due to the clashing of the previous seasons and the club’s participation in several trophies.
This season, the Reds would play 61 games across eight different trophies, leading also to the club’s withdrawal from the Egyptian League Cup.
Al Ahly’s manager Marcel Koller urged the club’s board to reconsider taking part in the Egypt Cup, and they listened during a meeting between the Swiss coach and club president Mahmoud El-Khatib on Friday.
Al Ahly have also for the first time gave an official update on Nice’s negotiations with the club over defender Mohamed Abdelmonem, stating they will send their demands to the French club.
The club’s decisions came as follows:
- The coaching staff has been given a break starting today due to extreme fatigue and the pressure of consecutive matches throughout the past period.
- Samy Komsan, the assistant coach, has been assigned to lead the team in the remaining three matches of the league.
- The players who have participated in a large number of matches throughout the season are granted rest starting today, and a number of youth players will be utilized in the upcoming matches.
- The team has apologized for not continuing in the Egypt Cup, after listening to Marcel Koller’s perspective and receiving unanimous approval from the board of directors.
- The players selected to join the national team for the upcoming international schedule will join the camp on the first of September. Al Ahly’s coaching staff will prepare a conditioning program to maintain their physical fitness.
- Preparations for the new season will begin in consultation with the head coach, with decisions to be finalized after the league concludes on the 17th of this month.
- The club will send its financial demands in response to the French offer received for defender Mohamed Abdel Monem, which reflects Al Ahly’s stature, the player’s exceptional abilities, and the team’s interests.
Yesterday, Al Ahly clinched their 44th league title after defeating Smouha, thanks to a late winner from Mohamed Magdy Afsha.
The club now has three remaining league matches, against ZED on August 11, ENPPI on August 14, and Modern Sport on August 17.
They were originally scheduled to play against Pharco in the Round of 16 of the Egypt Cup on August 20, having beat Al Aluminium in the previous round last month.
