Since the dismissal of José Riveiro, Al Ahly has been linked with several coaches, from Razvan Lucescu to Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira, to former South Korea and UAE national team coach Paulo Bento.
Bento’s name has been prominent in recent hours, especially after reports that he rejected an official offer from the Uzbekistan national team to lead the Asian country in the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
However, a source close to the legendary Sporting Lisbon coach confirmed that Bento is not interested in coaching Al Ahly and will not be the Red Castle’s new coach in the near future.
Quoting the source, he said, “There was indeed interest from Al Ahly in contracting with Paulo Bento, but coaching the team is not an option for him at the present time. We have complete respect for Al Ahly and its fans, but this is simply not the right time to take such a step.”
Meanwhile, Abel Ferreira confirmed in press statements that he will not leave Palmeiras, and that the idea of coaching Al Ahly is not currently on his mind.
The identity of Al Ahly’s new coach remains the subject of many unanswered questions, noting that Emad El Nahhas will assume the role on an interim basis, assisted by Adel Mostafa, until Mahmoud El Khatib’s management succeeds in securing Ribeiro’s successor.
