Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição, head of Al-Ittihad team, has decided to reinstate Malian midfielder Mahamoudou Doumbia to the starting lineup for the upcoming match against Al-Shabab today, Saturday, in the quarterfinals of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.

Al-Ittihad faces Al-Shabab at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah in a match expected to see the return of Doumbia, who has been absent from the last three rounds of the Saudi Roshn League against Al-Khaleej, Al-Ahli, and Al-Riyadh, before coming on as a substitute in the match against Qatar's Al-Duhail in the AFC Champions League.

According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah, Conceição had made his decision to rely on Doumbia from the start of the match.

The status of midfielder Houssam Aouar remains uncertain, as the coaching staff will decide on his participation after the technical meeting, based on the results of the medical and physical tests he underwent.