Al Ahly head coach Hussein Amouta is preparing to make several changes to his starting lineup against Abu Qir Fertilizers, as he looks to refresh the team and give opportunities to players who have impressed in recent training sessions.

Al Ahly will face Abu Qir Fertilizers at 8:00 PM on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Cairo International Stadium in the fifth round of the Egyptian Premier League, with several positions in the starting XI potentially set for changes.

Recent training sessions suggest that Amouta is considering changes in defence and midfield, as well as some adjustments in attack. The final training session is expected to determine the starting lineup and tactical plan.

New defence

Central defence appears to be one of the positions most likely to change, with Hadi Riyad and Yassin Marei emerging as strong candidates to start the match.

Marei has received significant attention during recent training sessions, spending considerable time with the group expected to start and receiving direct tactical instructions from the coaching staff.

That has increased his chances of featuring against Abu Qir Fertilizers.

Hadi Riyad is also firmly in Amouta's plans and could form a new central-defensive partnership, while Moroccan defender Achraf Dari remains another available option after being included in the squad.

Mohamed El Shenawy is expected to remain in goal, while Akram Tawfik is among the leading candidates to play at right-back.

On the opposite side, Amouta still has more than one option. Karim Fouad has trained at left-back recently and is pushing strongly for a starting place, while Karim El Debes also remains in contention.

The coaching staff hope these changes can help Al Ahly find greater defensive stability as Amouta continues to search for his strongest back line.

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Emam returns

The expected changes are not limited to defence, with Emam Ashour moving closer to a return to the starting lineup after regaining full fitness.

Ashour has returned strongly to Amouta's plans, with the Moroccan coach looking to use his energy, movement and ability to create chances and support the attack.

An initial midfield setup could see Marwan Attia and Ahmed Reda playing alongside Ashour, giving Al Ahly several options when building attacks and pressing the opposition.

In attack, Ahmed Sayed Zizo is among the leading options on the right wing, while Achraf Bencharki could operate from the left.

Soufiane Benjdida is also a candidate to lead the front line.

These players give Amouta several attacking solutions, whether through wide areas or movement between the lines, as Al Ahly look to increase their pace and create more chances in the final third.

Despite the emerging picture of the expected lineup, the coaching staff have not completely settled every position.

The final training session will play an important role in assessing the players and determining Amouta's final choices.

Al Ahly will be looking for an improved performance against Abu Qir Fertilizers while also making use of players receiving fresh opportunities, as Amouta continues his search for the right balance between defence and attack ahead of the next stages of the season.

The match will be officiated by Mohamed El Ghazi after the Egyptian Football Association's Referees Committee appointed him as the referee for the game.