"The club's football committee has approved the transfer," Ahli said on their website.

The 21-year-old will pen a four-year contract and is set to start his Ahli adventure when the transfer window opens in the summer.

The former Enugu Rangers man will be the third foreigner in the ranks of Ahli, who also have Angolan duo Gilberto and Flavio at their disposal.

Abai's signing will raise questions over the future of strikers Hani Al-Egeizi, Ahmed Hassan Farag and Ahmed Belal.

Al-Egeizi and Farag, who joined Ahli from Baladeya and Ghazl Mahalla respectively, have been given limited opportunities since their summer arrival.

Belal, who enjoyed tremendous success with Ahli in the early 2000s before moving to Turkish side Konyaspor, hasn't rediscovered his form since returning to the Red Devils in January 2007.

Ahli coach Manuel usually deploys the in-form Flavio as a lone striker.

With the acquisition of Abai and the expected return of Emad Meteb, who is on loan at Jeddah side Ittihad, Ahli might be forced to dispense with one of their out-of-favor strikers.