Under Pressure, El Khatib Reverses Course and Announces Candidacy for Al Ahly Presidency; Football Team Prepares for League Clash

In a significant and sudden reversal, Mahmoud El Khatib, the President of Al Ahly Club, has withdrawn his previous decision not to run for the club's presidential elections. In an official statement, he announced his intention to contest the upcoming election for the same position, citing overwhelming pressure from the fan base and club members.

El Khatib affirmed in the statement that Al Ahly's interest and stability supersede all else, explaining that this principle compelled him to run despite his ongoing health condition.

Intense Preparations for the First Football Team:

Separately, the coaching staff of Al Ahly's first football team, led by interim manager Emad El Nahhas, is intensifying preparations for their match against Kahraba El Ismailyia scheduled for next Saturday as part of the tenth round of the Egyptian Premier League.

El Nahhas is focused on studying the opponent to understand their tactics and key players to devise a suitable plan. The coaching staff is also working to address technical errors observed in the team's performance during the Derby match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the Red Devils, to prevent their recurrence.

Key Returns and Critical Absences:

Al Ahly will see the return of two key attacking midfielders for the upcoming match:

• Ahmed Sayed Zizo: Recovered from a groin injury.

• Mohamed Magdy "Afsha": Completed a treatment program after a calf injury.

• Both players have participated in team training and are confirmed ready for the match.

Conversely, several players will be absent against Kahraba El Ismailyia, including Emam Ashour, Ashraf Dari, Karim Fouad, and Mohamed Shokry. Additionally, Hussein El Shahat and Taher Mohamed Taher are awaiting medical assessments:

• Hussein El Shahat: Sustained a shoulder contusion from a strong challenge in the Derby.

• Taher Mohamed Taher: Suffers from anterior thigh muscle spasms and is undergoing a one-week treatment program, according to initial medical estimates.

• Mohamed Shokry (Left-Back): Will undergo a medical test soon to determine his availability for the match as he recovers from a muscle tear.

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Handball Team Faces Magdeburg in Club World Cup:

In other sports news, Al Ahly's handball team will compete against Magdeburg of Germany in the third-place match of the IHF Men's Super Globe (Club World Cup) on Thursday at 5:15 PM in the Administrative Capital Arena. Al Ahly reached the semifinals despite an earlier loss to Veszprém (31-22), by advancing as the best second-place team, before losing the semifinal to FC Barcelona (26-21).