A source close to the Al Ahly coaching staff confirmed that the decision was made not to include Palestinian player Wissam Abu Ali in the first leg against Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League, in order to avoid exacerbating his injury in the adductor muscle. The source mentioned that the coaching staff preferred to rest him for this match so that he could fully recover and return to his physical level in upcoming matches. The source also confirmed that Wissam's chances of participating in the return leg are higher, as he will have more time to rest and recover from the injury.

The player complained of pain in his adductor muscle during the team's last training session in Cairo before traveling to South Africa, which led the coaching staff to exclude him from the starting lineup. Additionally, Wissam missed the first team's training session in South Africa, with the medical team opting for rehabilitation exercises to maintain his physical condition and prevent further injury.

This match is considered crucial for Al Ahly's path in the CAF Champions League, especially in the semi-final, which will largely determine the team that will qualify for the final. Al Ahly aims to win the first leg to return to the second leg in the best possible condition, which is why the coaching staff is keen to protect key players from injuries.

The match will take place at 3:00 PM on Saturday, April 19, at Loftus Stadium in South Africa, as part of the first leg of the semi-final. Fans are anticipating a strong match between the two teams, given their rich history in the competition. Everyone is eager to see if Al Ahly will be able to keep their hopes alive for qualifying for the final through this encounter.

The return leg will be held in Egypt next Friday, April 25, and is expected to see a large turnout of Al Ahly supporters to back the team in this challenging task.