Al Ahli are facing a familiar pain. For the second consecutive season, they reached the final of the continental three-way cup and lost to an African champion, this time falling 2-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The defeat has intensified scrutiny around coach Marino Pusic, whose tactical decisions during the match drew sharp criticism from fans and pundits alike. The broader frustration stems from a sense that the club had the quality to win, controlling large portions of the first half before Sundowns pulled away.

The result is part of a wider pattern of inconsistency. Al Ahli have won two, drawn one, and lost two of their last five matches across all competitions, and they sit sixth in the Saudi Pro League with 12 points from seven games, one place and three points behind Neom SC. Questions about the squad rebuild following the departures of key figures like Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessie have resurfaced, with critics arguing the club has not adequately replaced their influence.

Off the pitch, a sarcastic social media post from rivals Al Ittihad after the final whistle added to the uncomfortable atmosphere around the club. There was also a separate controversy involving a fan incident in the stands during the Pretoria defeat.

Attention now turns to domestic football. Al Ahli travel to face Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League on October 9, a fixture that carries added weight given the pressure building on the coaching staff.