Al-Ahli set to hand Aboubacar Sidiki Kinteh debut against Al Gharafa

Al-Ahli head coach Marino Pusic is expected to include defender Aboubacar Sidiki Kinteh in his squad for the first time this season when the Saudi club face Al Gharafa in the AFC Champions League Elite.

Al-Ahli host the Qatari side at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah on Monday, with the match forming part of the third round of the competition’s league phase.

According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah, 19-year-old Kinteh will be included in Al-Ahli’s matchday squad for the first time since joining the club during the summer transfer window.

The Gambian defender moved to Al-Ahli from Norwegian club Tromsø on a five-year contract. However, he had not been named in a squad for any match since completing the transfer.

Kinteh suffered a tear in a front-thigh muscle during Al-Ahli’s overseas training camp before the start of the season. The injury ruled him out of contention and delayed his first appearance for the club.

He has now recovered and is ready to become available to Pusic in the coming period. His return is expected to provide Al-Ahli with another defensive option as the team deals with absences in that area.

The latest defensive casualty is Turkey international Merih Demiral, whose absence has further increased the importance of having Kinteh available.

Al-Ahli go into the meeting with Al Gharafa fifth in the West Region group, having collected four points from their opening two matches. Their record consists of one victory and one draw.

They are two points behind the four teams currently sharing first place in the group.

The match will therefore give Al-Ahli an opportunity to strengthen their position in the league phase while potentially marking the beginning of Kinteh’s involvement with the first team.