Ahli club completed travel arrangements for its Angelo defender Gilberto who will undergo an urgent surgery in Germany after suffering an Achilles injury during a friendly warm-up match for the African Cup of Nations.

“Gilberto will travel on Sunday night with team doctor Ihab Ali to undergo surgery after he picked up the injury in Morocco before the African Cup of Nations started, which forced him to miss the tournament,” Ahli football director Hossam El-Badri told FilGoal.com exclusively on Sunday.

Gilberto who was a key player in leading Angola to the World Cup finals this year also helped Al Ahli clinch the African Champions League title last season.

“Gilberto’s injury will have him sidelined for at least seven months meaning he will miss the rest of the season and will have a narrow chance of playing in the World Cup finals,” El-Badri added.

Angola lost their opening Group B match in the African Cup on Saturday as they fell to Cameroon 3-1.

Ahli striker Flavio Amado scored Angola’s single goal from a penalty kick.