CAIRO: Ahly have started to feel the adverse effect of the African Cup of Nations after Emad Meteb, Sayed Moawad and Gilberto suffered injuries while playing for their national teams. Gilberto has an ankle problem that will prevent him from playing in Monday s league game against Ghazl Mahalla, Ahly said in a statement on their official website on Saturday. Moawad will be out for up to three weeks due to a hamstring injury and Meteb faces two weeks on the sidelines for a similar complaint. Angola winger Gilberto put in some fine displays in the Nations Cup but the hosts failed to make it to the semi finals after losing 1-0 to eventual runners-up Ghana in the quarter final. Left-back Moawad and striker Meteb, who scored two goals, played a key role in helping Egypt claim an unprecedented third consecutive Nations Cup title. Ahly visit Mahalla on Monday as the Egyptian Premier League resumes action following a 50-day break. Meanwhile, Ahly football director Hadi Khashaba denied reports indicating that the club have received an offer for in-form midfielder Ahmed Fathi. No team expressed an interest in signing Fathi. If any offer is tabled, the club s football committee will consider it, he said. Fathi, a versatile midfielder, was one of Egypt s most consistent performers in the Nations Cup.
