Youssef Belammari Injury Scare Disrupts Al Ahly Pre-Season Plans

Al Ahly’s preparations for a make-or-break new season have taken an early hit, with Moroccan winger Youssef Belammari suffering a knee sprain in a friendly against Spanish side Badalona on Wednesday.

The injury occurred at the "Bosc de Tosca" municipal stadium in Spain, where the Cairo giants are holding their pre-season camp. What was supposed to be another routine tune-up match quickly turned into a worrying scene as Belammari was forced off and sent straight to hospital.

Al Ahly announced through their official channels that the player underwent medical examinations and X-rays to determine the extent of the damage. The club’s medical staff will use those tests to assess how serious the sprain is and decide how long he will be out of training and competitive action.

For now, there is only uncertainty. The examinations are expected to clarify whether Belammari faces a short spell on the sidelines or a longer period of treatment and rehabilitation before he can return to the pitch.

It is an unwelcome disruption for a club under pressure. Al Ahly head into the new campaign desperate to reset the narrative after a bruising season in which they failed to secure a single major title, both domestically and on the continental stage. Every training session, every friendly, has been framed as part of a response to that disappointment.

Belammari was brought in as part of that rebuild. The Moroccan joined Al Ahly last January from Raja Casablanca on a three-and-a-half-year deal, seen as a fresh attacking option with room to grow into a key role.

Now the club waits on scan results, hoping that one of their newer investments in the squad is not about to start the season watching from the stands.