Youssef Belammari Injury Scare for Al Ahly

Al Ahly’s preparations for a redemption season have suffered an early jolt after Moroccan winger Youssef Belammari picked up a knee injury in a friendly against Spanish side Badalona on Wednesday.

The match, played at the "Bosc de Tosca" municipal stadium in Spain, was part of the Red Devils’ pre-season camp as they look to reset after a barren campaign. Instead, it delivered a worrying sight as Belammari was forced off with what the club described as a knee sprain.

Al Ahly announced through their official channels that the 26-year-old had been taken to hospital for medical examinations and X-rays. The medical team will use those tests to determine the exact nature of the damage, how serious the sprain is, and how long the player will be out of training and competition.

The club stressed that only after the results come back will they be able to set a timeline for his return or decide whether he needs an extended period of treatment and rehabilitation.

For Marcel Koller and his staff, the timing is far from ideal. Al Ahly are trying to rebuild confidence and structure after a season in which they failed to land a single major trophy, stumbling both in domestic competitions and on the continental stage. Pre-season was meant to be a clean slate, a chance to sharpen a squad under pressure to respond.

Belammari is one of the pieces brought in to change that narrative. Al Ahly signed him last January from Raja Casablanca on a three-and-a-half-year deal, betting on his direct running and creativity to add a different edge in the final third.

Now, instead of fine-tuning his role in the system, the club waits on scans and medical reports.

With a fan base demanding a reaction and a squad still smarting from last season’s failures, Al Ahly can ill afford to lose a key winter signing just as the new campaign starts to take shape.