Al-Aliqi defends Al Hilal’s transfer strategy amid fans criticism

Al Hilal Omdurman’s head of the sports sector, Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Aliqi, has asked fans to be patient in the club’s search for a new top striker.

The Sudanese giants are looking to sign a leading forward, having appeared toothless without their captain Mohamed Abdelrahman as they were eliminated from the CAF Champions League at the quarterfinal stage.

Competing in the Mauritanian Super D1 this season, the club made significant strides by reaching the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League. However, they were knocked out by Egyptian side Al Ahly prompting fans to criticize the Hilal hierarchy for failing to secure reinforcements during the January transfer window.

Al-Aliqi defended the club’s position on signing strikers in an interview with the local Sudanese sports paper Action Sport. “The management does not regret the decisions taken. The circumstances were not favorable. From the beginning of January till the last day of player registration, we negotiated with several players. But we did not find a striker who met our specifications.”

Al-Aliqi further added that Al Hilal has adopted a new strategy in recruiting players. “Our mechanism is negotiating with the player’s camp. Then we study the technical aspect of the player. Finally, we take the opinion of the head coach.”

He also revealed that Al Hilal refused to pay $3 million for a striker during the transfer window, though he was reluctant to disclose the player’s name. According to the head of the sports sector, the ongoing civil war in Sudan has affected Al Hilal’s chances of attracting star players.

Both Omdurman giants, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, have been credited for not disbanding their teams during these trying times. The clubs continue to function and compete on the continent’s biggest stage, largely due to their strong financial foundations.