Al-Ahli's first football team is preparing for a tough and crucial test when they face Al-Taawoun tomorrow, Wednesday, in the fifteenth round of the Saudi Professional League. This match comes at a critical juncture in the competition, as Al-Ahli seeks to solidify their position in the top four and close the gap with the leading teams.
Al Ahly's coaching staff faces significant challenges due to the absence of four key players from both the starting lineup and the reserves, placing the team in a difficult position that requires alternative tactical solutions. The absence of Senegalese international goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has been officially confirmed; he has joined his national team to participate in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. This absence represents a major blow to Al Ahly's defense, given Mendy's importance in goal.
In addition to Mendy, the squad will be missing right-back Ali Majrashi due to suspension for accumulated yellow cards, and midfielder Mohammed Abdulrahman due to a recent injury. Abdulilah Al-Khaibri is also absent for tactical reasons, as determined by the coach. These absences necessitate a more cautious defensive approach from the team, requiring them to compensate for the numerical disadvantage with tactical discipline on the field.
On the bright side, Al Ahly fans breathed a sigh of relief after the confirmation that the dynamic duo of Ivorian Franck Kessié and Algerian Riyad Mahrez are fit and available for selection, having just returned from continental competitions with their respective national teams. Their return is considered a significant boost for the team ahead of this match, as the coach is heavily relying on them to make a difference in attack and control the midfield.
This match holds immense strategic importance, extending far beyond the three points at stake; it's a direct confrontation to break the deadlock in the race for the top spots. Al-Taawoun enters the match in third place with 31 points, closely followed by Al-Ahli in fourth with 28 points. This narrow margin (only 3 points) makes the match a "six-pointer," as an Al-Ahli victory would level the points and intensify the competition for third place, which grants qualification to continental and international competitions.
This confrontation reflects the great development witnessed by the Saudi Professional League, as the competition is no longer limited to the two poles of the capital and Jeddah only, but clubs such as Al-Taawoun have entered as difficult numbers in the equation of the championship, which has raised the market and technical value of the league and made every round have the character of early finals.
