Tension has enveloped the Al Ahly camp in the United States, coinciding with their opening match in the FIFA Club World Cup against Inter Miami, which ended in a goalless draw in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Reports indicate a deepening rift between player and coach that may have affected team performance.

Former Al Ahly player Islam Al-Shater revealed troubling details about the circumstances surrounding the omission of Moroccan player Achraf Bencharki from the matchday squad.

According to Al-Shater, the decision made by Spanish coach Jose Ribeiro to keep Bencharki on the bench was disciplinary, stemming from existing tensions between the player and the coach.

Al-Shater articulated that proper preparations typically occur two to three days prior to a match, involving the allocation of color-coded jerseys to determine starting players.

Ribeiro distributed blue jerseys to the starting lineup but did not provide one to Bencharki.

This decision reportedly led Bencharki to infer he would not be included in the starting eleven, prompting visible disappointment and frustration.

Further details emerged that Bencharki notably abstained from participating in the warm-up exercises before the match, despite not being injured.

The atmosphere surrounding the team remains uncertain ahead of their next fixtures.