The coaching staff of Al-Ittihad's first football team received a major blow just hours before their departure to Tabuk, with the official confirmation that winger Abdulrahman Al-Aboud will be absent from the squad called up to face Neom FC in the twelfth round of the Saudi Professional League. The highly anticipated match is scheduled for Wednesday evening at Neom Stadium, amidst great anticipation from fans.
Abdulrahman Al-Aboud was excluded from the match squad due to his lack of full technical and physical readiness. In recent days, the player had only been able to train individually in the gym and had not participated in group training sessions with his teammates. Based on the medical and technical reports, it was decided that the player would not travel with the team to Tabuk, as the coaching staff preferred to rest him and prepare him for upcoming matches rather than risk further injury.
Al-Ittihad's absences are not limited to Al-Aboud, as the team will also miss the services of Albanian full-back Mario Mitai, who is suspended for the match. This puts the coaching staff in a challenging position to find suitable replacements in the back line and on the flanks to compensate for these significant absences in the team's starting lineup.
Al-Ittihad enters this match with high morale, buoyed by their recent positive results. The team secured a valuable and well-deserved victory in the last round against Al-Shabab, winning 2-0 at Al-Inma Stadium. Al-Ittihad hopes to capitalize on this momentum to continue their winning streak and compete strongly for the top spot in the league standings.
This match is of particular importance given the fierce competition in the Roshan League this season, where dropping points is unacceptable amidst the intense battle among the top clubs. The match against Neom in Tabuk will be a true test of Al-Ittihad's ability to overcome the challenges and the numerical disadvantage, especially since the Saudi League has become a global focus and is witnessing significant technical development, making every match akin to a cup final that demands high concentration from the players and coaching staff to secure the three points.
