Al Ahly begin their 2026-27 Egyptian Premier League campaign against ENPPI on Sunday at Cairo International Stadium, in a match that carries significance beyond the opening three points.

The game will mark Hussein Ammouta's first official league appearance in charge of the team, with the Moroccan coach facing an early challenge due to several absences and questions surrounding the fitness of key players.

The match also comes after defending champions Zamalek opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Al Ittihad Alexandria, giving Al Ahly an early opportunity to make a statement in the title race.

Amouta starts amid absences

Al Ahly will not enter the game with a fully available squad. Reports indicate that Yassin Marei will miss the match through suspension, while several other players remain short of full technical and physical readiness.

Since returning from their training camp in Spain, Amouta's preparations have focused on recovery, fitness and tactical work ahead of his first league test.

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The expected lineup could see Mostafa Shobeir in goal, with Karim Fouad, Amr El Gazar, Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Hany in defense. Ali Mahmoud, Marwan Attia and Ahmed Zizo are expected to operate in midfield, while Ashraf Bencharki, Sofiane Benjedida and Moncef Bekkar could form the attacking unit.

Emam Ashour remains the key question

Emam Ashour's availability remains one of the main talking points before kickoff. Although he has been medically cleared, he has yet to regain his full physical condition, leaving his starting role subject to the coaching staff's final assessment.

Mohamed Abdullah is also dealing with an ankle knock suffered in training, while Kabaka continues his rehabilitation program following a previous injury. Meanwhile, Moroccan duo Reda Slim and Achraf Dari have been registered and are back in the team's plans, although their readiness for competitive action remains a consideration.

Al Ahly can also draw confidence from their strong record in league openers in recent years, but Amouta knows that history alone will not decide Sunday's encounter.

The opening match will therefore serve as an early test of Al Ahly's new-look approach under the Moroccan coach and his ability to overcome absences while finding the right combination from the very first round.