Ahli announced the preliminary squad list for the 2007-2008 season with the exclusion of unsettled playmaker Wael Riad. Riad, who has just recently returned to Ahli after a short spell at Austria's Grazer, was joined by Olympic team playmaker Tarek Saad in Manuel Jose's out of favor list. Riad's exclusion reaffirms speculation suggesting that he will join ENPPI next season, as the 25-year-old is looking for regular football. However, the list included Tunisian midfielder Anis Boujelbene, who is strongly linked with a move to Qatar's Al-Arabi. Another surprise inclusion in the 25-man list was the name of Ahli's U-20 member Mohamed Ibrahim Hegazi 'Mando', who rarely played for the first team. "I am very happy to be with Ahli," Mando told FilGoal.com on Tuesday. The 20-year-old striker quashed rumors that he is leaving the Egyptian champions to join Alexandria-based club Ittihad.
Boujelbene is in "I received no offers from Ittihad," he said. Ahli's summer signings Moataz 'Eno' and Reda Al-Weeshi will join the list later after completing their registration, in addition to Rami Adel, who finished his loan at Arab Contractors. The Squad Goalkeepers: Essam Al-Hadari, Amir Abdul-Hamid Defenders: Emad Al-Nahhas, Wael Gomaa, Ahmed Al-Sayed, Shadi Mohamed, Islam Al-Shater, Mohamed Mahmoud 'Nano', Ahmed Adel, Ahmed Shedid. Midfielders: Mohamed Shawky, Hossam Ashour, Hassan Mostafa, Ahmed Sedik, Tarek Al-Saied, Sebastiao Gilberto, Anis Boujelbene, Mohamed Abou-Treika, Mohamed Barakat. Strikers: Emad Meteb, Flavio Amado, Abdul-Hamid Hassan 'Mido', Mohamed Ibrahim Hegazi 'Mando', Ahmed Belal, Osama Hosni.
