The German Matthias Jaissle, the head coach of Al-Ahli Club, has decided to exclude the French midfielder Valentin Atangana from the team's squad for the match against Neom, scheduled for this Saturday evening, as part of the 18th round of the Saudi Professional League (Roshn League), set to take place at King Khalid Sports City Stadium in Tabuk.

The decision to exclude him was made to provide rest, given Atangana's continuous participation in previous matches, which resulted in physical fatigue, according to the Saudi newspaper "Al-Riyadiyah." The coaching staff preferred to give him a break before upcoming commitments.

The newspaper pointed out that the full roster of foreign players on Al-Ahly's list was an additional reason for Atangana's absence, as Jaissle decided to call up Brazilian Matheus instead, in line with the match requirements and the coach's tactical choices.

The list of foreign players in Al-Ahli's lineup to face Neom includes: Edouard Mendy, Roger Ibanez, Franck Kessié, Enzo Melot, Matheus, Galeno, Riyad Mahrez, and Ivan Toney. Meanwhile, Turkish defender Merih Demiral is absent due to injury, and Brazilian Ricardo Matias and Belgian Dams have been excluded for technical reasons.