(Others) – Ahly skipper Hossam Ghaly has sustained a rupture in his anterior knee ligament and will therefore be out of action indefinitely, the Cairo giants announced Sunday. The veteran midfielder was injured just before half-time during his side's 2-1 win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima in a Club World Cup match on Sunday. "Ghaly is suffering from a torn interior knee ligament. We will determine the place and date of the surgery in the coming days," Ahly doctor Ihab Aly was quoted as saying by the club's official website. "Ghaly is the team's skipper and one of the club's icons. We will offer him all the support he needs," he added. Ghaly is expected to be sidelined for six months at least as a result of the injury, which comes as a blow to both Ahly and Egypt's national team, which is currently bracing for a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe next march. "I'm happy with Ahly's win and performance. This will help them a lot in the upcoming match," the Pharaohs' American coach Bob Bradley said. "I'm saddened by Ghaly's injury, however, as he plays a major role in the team – and in Egypt also," Bradley added. Cairo giants Ahly are set for a clash against Brazilian outfit the Corinthians in an upcoming Club World Cup semi-final after claiming a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
