Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Al Ahly’s management has officially decided to part ways with Spanish head coach José Ribeiro following the team’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Pyramids FC in the Egyptian Premier League. The decision comes after a string of underwhelming performances that have left the club’s supporters and board frustrated.
Sources inside the club confirmed that the announcement of Ribeiro’s departure will be made within hours. In the interim, former Al Ahly player and coach Emad El-Nahas will take over the first-team duties on a temporary basis until a new foreign head coach is appointed.
The defeat against Pyramids, which took place at Al Salam Stadium as part of the fifth round of league fixtures, saw Al Ahly struggle to create opportunities and defend effectively. With this result, Pyramids moved up to third place with eight points, while Al Ahly remained stalled at five points, dropping to 12th in the league standings.
In response to the poor performance, Al Ahly’s football department has also decided to impose significant financial penalties on the first-team players. A portion of their contract payments will be withheld, reflecting the board’s dissatisfaction with what they described as a lackluster performance that failed to meet the club’s standards or fan expectations.
The decision to dismiss Ribeiro was reached during a high-level meeting on Sunday morning, which included club president Mahmoud El-Khatib and planning committee members Mokhtar Mokhtar and Zakaria Nassef. The board cited the team’s recent results and overall lack of improvement under Ribeiro’s leadership as the primary reasons for the managerial change.
Ribeiro, who was appointed as Al Ahly’s head coach in June, managed the team in seven official matches. During his short tenure, the team recorded just one victory, four draws, and suffered two defeats — a run of form deemed unacceptable for a club with Al Ahly’s ambitions and stature.
While the search for a new permanent coach begins, Emad El-Nahas is expected to bring stability and familiarity to the squad. El-Nahas, a former defender and club legend, has previous experience in management within the Egyptian league and is seen as a capable caretaker during this transitional period.
Al Ahly’s board reiterated their appreciation for Ribeiro’s efforts and wished him success in his future endeavors, while also affirming their commitment to making the necessary changes to bring the team back on track competitively, both domestically and in continental competitions.
