Al Ahly Reportedly Slashes Player Salaries After Sacking Head Coach Jose Riveiro
- Africa's most powerful football club Al Ahly sacked manager Jose Riveiro following a league defeat against Pyramids FC
- Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly hits alarming slump with two losses in seven matches across all competitions
- Many fans have flocked to social media to back Al Ahly’s reported bold wage-cut move as they seek to get back on track quickly
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In a shocking turn of events, African giants Al Ahly have reportedly decided to dock a significant percentage of their players’ monthly salaries, a drastic measure aimed at shaking the squad out of a torrid spell of form.
For a club accustomed to dominance, the recent struggles have left fans heartbroken and management fuming.
Source: Getty Images
The 2025 Club World Cup, won by Chelsea, was supposed to be a stage for Al Ahly to reaffirm their status as a global powerhouse. Instead, it became a tale of squandered opportunities and bitter frustration.
The tournament began with a frustrating 0-0 stalemate against Inter Miami, a match that could have gone their way had Mahmoud Trezeguet not missed a decisive penalty. That moment now feels symbolic of the team’s decline, a golden chance slipping through their fingers.
If the draw with Inter Miami felt like a missed opportunity, the 2-0 defeat to Palmeiras was a harsh reality check. The Brazilian champions exposed Al Ahly’s frailties in both defence and attack, leaving fans questioning the hunger and desire of their beloved team.
The final group game against FC Porto ended in yet another crushing disappointment, a 4-4 draw that sealed their elimination from the Club World Cup. For a team with such a proud history, bowing out without a single victory was nothing short of humiliating.
Source: Getty Images
Ahly's problems deepen
Back in Egypt, fans hoped the team would redeem itself in the league. Instead, the struggles persisted. According to Flashscore, after four matches into the 2025/26 Egyptian Premier League season, Al Ahly have managed just one win, a stat that speaks volumes about the depth of their crisis.
Confidence is shattered, chemistry is missing, and frustration is at an all-time high for Africa's most successful football club.
Following Ahly's 2-0 home defeat to Pyramids on August 30, manager Jose Riveiro paid the ultimate price for the team's slump, as the Spaniard was sacked on August 31, 2025, after managing just one win in seven games, according to KingFut.
In another bold response to their alarming nosedive, Al Ahly have reportedly moved to cut players’ monthly wages by 25% in a bid to spark an immediate turnaround in form.
The decision, first reported by African sports journalist Micky Jnr on X, has generated lots of reactions from football fans, with some of the comments stated below.
@Michael Miser commented:
''They should’ve done that before firing the coach. These players may have sabotaged Josè knowing he’ll be fired. So it is not fair to fire the coach before trying to reduce their salaries.''
@IMayo wrote:
''Players likely have default fixed monthly salaries like everyone, with added bonus also received monthly on condition they perform to certain level. Not reaching level gives employer legal right to deduct performance bonus. Players cant demand bonus money if its performance based.''
@BossMMI reacted:
''That’s the way it should be, cut salaries for poor performance and reward players for strong results. The coach’s role mostly ends with the pre-match briefing, once the players step onto the field, it’s up to them to deliver. Clubs need to start taking a hard stance on this.''
Al Ahly's Trezeguet outsmarts Lionel Messi
Earlier, YEN.com.gh highlighted a dazzling display of skill from Al Ahly star Mahmoud Trezeguet, who pulled off a brilliant move against Lionel Messi during their Club World Cup clash.
Trezeguet’s big moment ended in heartbreak as his 43rd-minute penalty miss cost Al Ahly a crucial first-half lead in a tense Club World Cup clash, which eventually ended 0-0.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
