CAIRO: Ahly manager Hossam Al-Badri said that Ahmed Hassan was dropped from the starting line-up against Petrojet due to fatigue.

"Hassan has been struggling with fatigue for a long time and that’s why we preferred to keep him on the bench," Al-Badri told Ahly’s official site.

"Soon enough he will be ready to return to the starting line-up in our upcoming domestic and continental games."

Hassan, 35, was introduced as a second-half sub when Ahly were trailing by a goal, before helping the league leaders overturn the game to win 2-1.

The Egypt captain, Ahly’s top scorer in the league so far, has been a regular in Al-Badri’s selection since the start of the season.