He isn't exactly the loudest guy on the pitch. You won't see him doing backflips or screaming into TV cameras after a tap-in. But if you’ve been watching African football over the last few months, especially with the 2026 World Cup qualifiers heating up, you know Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane is basically the glue holding things together for both club and country.
Right now, he's a massive deal in Cairo. After a somewhat quiet stint in Europe with Ferencváros, the Tunisian midfielder made the jump to Al Ahly in 2025 for a reported €1.6 million. Some called it a step back. Honestly? They were wrong. He’s currently playing some of the most refined football of his career, proving that being a "big fish" in the Egyptian Premier League is a lot more demanding than critics realize.
The Heroics in Malabo
Let's talk about September 8, 2025. It’s a date Tunisian fans won't forget anytime soon. The Carthage Eagles were grinding out a frustrating, humid mess of a match against Equatorial Guinea. It looked like a 0-0 borefest. Then, in the 94th minute, Ben Romdhane pops up. He didn't overcomplicate it. He just found the space, took the pass from Firas Chaouat, and buried it.
That single goal didn't just win a game. It punched Tunisia's ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
"When Firas got the ball, I just knew," Ben Romdhane told Tunisian TV afterward. He’s got that weird sixth sense for timing. It’s why he’s racked up over 50 caps for the national team at just 26 years old. He isn't just a body in midfield; he’s the guy coach Sami Trabelsi looks to when the tactical plan starts falling apart.
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Why Al Ahly Paid the Premium
Transitioning from Hungarian football to the pressure cooker of Al Ahly isn't for everyone. The fans are... intense. But Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane has handled it like a pro. Since joining, he’s already helped them secure an Egyptian Super Cup (beating Zamalek, which always helps with the locals) and has become a staple in their CAF Champions League rotation.
He wears the number 5, but don't let that fool you into thinking he’s just a defensive mid. He’s a hybrid. One minute he’s sitting deep as a playmaker, the next he’s pushed up as an advanced "8" or even a "10."
The Statistical Reality
Numbers usually lie in football, but these ones are pretty telling:
- Versatility: He has played in four different positions this season alone, including a random cameo on the left wing against Zamalek.
- Ball Retention: He’s currently maintaining an 88% pass accuracy. In the chaotic, high-press environment of North African derbies, that is borderline insane.
- Clutch Factor: His goal against FC Porto in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (a wild 4-4 draw) showed he can hang with the UEFA elite, even if his time in Hungary was shorter than expected.
The AFCON Knee Scare
It hasn't all been smooth sailing. Just a few weeks ago, during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, everyone in Tunis held their breath. In a high-octane clash against Nigeria, Ben Romdhane collided with Stanley Nwabali. He went down clutching his knee.
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Initial reports were terrifying. People were talking about ACL tears and missed World Cups. Thankfully, the medical verdict was just a nasty bone contusion. He missed the subsequent League Cup matches for Al Ahly to recover, but he's already back on the training pitch. It shows a certain level of physical resilience that you need if you're going to survive 30+ games a year in the Egyptian heat.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a narrative that Ben Romdhane "failed" in Europe. That’s a bit of a stretch. He won two league titles with Ferencváros. He played in the Europa League and the Conference League. If anything, his move to Al Ahly was about profile and playing time. In Cairo, he’s a superstar. In Budapest, he was a rotation piece.
For a player with his specific skill set—bravery on the ball, late runs into the box, and a decent engine—rhythm is everything. You can see the difference in his confidence now. He’s taking more risks. He’s demanding the ball in tight spots. He’s basically become the successor to the aging legends in the Ahly midfield, and he's doing it with a calmness that's kinda scary for someone his age.
Looking Toward the 2026 World Cup
Tunisia is in a tough spot for the upcoming tournament, drawn into Group F with the Netherlands and Japan. It’s a "Group of Death" scenario. But with Ben Romdhane in the middle, they have a tactical flexibility they didn't have in 2022. He allows them to switch from a defensive 4-5-1 to an attacking 4-3-3 without making a sub.
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If you’re looking to follow his progress, keep an eye on the CAF Champions League group stages this February. Al Ahly is scheduled to face Young Africans and JS Kabylie. These are the "dirty" games where Ben Romdhane usually shines—winning second balls, slowing down the tempo when things get frantic, and finding that one killer pass to break a low block.
For those tracking his career for scouting or fantasy purposes, his current market value sits around €1.5 million, but expect that to spike if he has a solid showing in North America this summer. He’s under contract until 2029, so Al Ahly holds all the cards here.
To really understand his impact, stop watching the highlights of his goals. Instead, watch a full 90-minute replay of Tunisia vs. Equatorial Guinea. Watch how he tracks back in the 80th minute. Watch how he directs traffic. That’s the real Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. He’s the professional's professional.
Next Steps for Following Ben Romdhane:
- Monitor the CAF Champions League Schedule: His next major test is the Group B clash against JS Kabylie on February 5, 2026. This will be a litmus test for his fitness after the AFCON injury.
- Watch the International Friendlies: Tunisia often uses March windows to test midfield pairings; look for how he links up with Hannibal Mejbri to see the future of the Eagles' transition play.
- Check Egyptian Premier League Standings: Al Ahly has several postponed matches to make up; his workload over the next eight weeks will be massive and will determine if he stays injury-free for the World Cup.