Al-Ittihad have left international striker Saleh Al-Shahri and midfielder Rakan Al-Kaabi out of their squad for Monday’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Neftchi Fergana, in a decision that points to German manager Jens Wissing’s dissatisfaction with their recent performances.
The Saudi club are preparing for a decisive test in Uzbekistan at a stage of the competition when another setback could severely damage their hopes of progressing. Al-Ittihad are currently 11th in the standings with one point from their opening two matches.
According to information obtained by the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah, Wissing has also chosen not to reveal his starting line-up until the final technical meeting before kick-off. The move is intended to keep his plans concealed and make it more difficult for the hosts to prepare for the match.
The decision to exclude Al-Shahri and Al-Kaabi entirely from the matchday squad has surprised those inside the club. It is viewed as part of Wissing’s attempt to make a significant technical change to the team after an unconvincing start to their continental campaign.
Al-Ittihad will visit Neftchi Fergana at Fergana Stadium, with the match scheduled to begin at 16:45 Mecca time on Monday, 26 October 2026. The fixture is part of the third round of the AFC Champions League Elite.
The Jeddah-based side began the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Qatar’s Al-Shamal, before losing 2-1 to Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates. That sequence of results has left them under considerable pressure before their trip to Fergana.
Neftchi Fergana enter the match in seventh place with three points and have made a stronger start by comparison. They opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, but then suffered a 3-1 defeat by Al-Nassr.
The Uzbek side will therefore be aiming to return to winning ways, while Al-Ittihad need a result to prevent their early position in the competition from becoming even more difficult.