Al Ahly confirmed on Thursday that defender Amr El-Gazzar has suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament tear, sidelining the Egyptian centre-back for several months. The injury was sustained during the club's Egyptian Premier League fixture against Al Mokawloon Al Arab, which ended in a 1-1 draw in the fourth round of the domestic competition.
Club medical director Dr Ahmed Gaballah detailed the extent of the damage following diagnostic scans. El-Gazzar sustained not only the ACL tear but also cartilage damage that will require surgical intervention. The medical staff is currently scheduling the operation for the coming weeks as the player enters an extended rehabilitation period typical of such injuries in professional football.
Defensive Crisis Deepens for Red Devils
The timing of El-Gazzar's injury compounds Al Ahly's defensive woes, as fellow centre-back Yasser Ibrahim also picked up a separate injury in the same match against Al Mokawloon. With both starting defenders unavailable, the Red Devils face a significant challenge in their upcoming fixtures across the Egyptian Premier League and continental competitions. ACL injuries typically require a recovery period of 6-9 months before players return to competitive action, making this a critical blow to Al Ahly's squad depth at a crucial stage of the season.
El-Gazzar, a key component of Al Ahly's defensive structure, will miss multiple matches during his rehabilitation. The club's medical team will oversee his post-operative recovery and gradual return to training protocols. Al Ahly must now consider alternatives in their centre-back pairing as they navigate an increasingly demanding fixture list without two of their primary defensive options.
