The Reds crowned third best club in the world
Aboutrika. Aboutrika!
Remember that name when you are at the airport awaiting the arrival of the Al Ahly Club team from their triumph in Japan.
Remember that name when you reflect on the past year and what this red team has achieved for Egyptian sports and club football in particular.
It was Mohamed Aboutrika who helped Ahly win (after Angolan striker Flavio’s brilliant opening goal) against New Zealand’s Auckland FC in the opening game of Fifa’s Club World Cup.
And it was playmaker Aboutrika who scored a trademark free-kick and also got the winner after Mexico s Club America s Salvador Cabanas s 59th-minute equalizer. Third spot is a vast improvement on last year s showing by the Egyptian giants, who finished bottom in the inaugural tournament. Aboutrika is the tournament s provisional top scorer ahead of Sunday s final, enhancing his claim to become African player of the year. The Egyptian is the only Africa-based player to be short-listed, alongside Dider Drogba, Michael Essien, Samuel Eto o and Nwankwo Kanu.
Last week, Ahly coach Manuel Jose called for more belief from his players after they overcame a nervy start to down Auckland City s amateurs 2-0 in the Club World Cup. The African champions from Egypt will play Brazil’s Internacional in the semi-finals on Wednesday and Jose said they would need greater self-confidence against the South American title-holders. We need to show more belief in ourselves. That s a major difference between Brazilian and Egyptian football, Jose had said.
Ahead of Sunday’s game, Jose told his players they had embarked on a history-making mission. Ahly, arguably Africa s biggest team with an estimated 50 million fans, were desperate to make up for last year s campaign when they finished bottom after defeats to Al Ittihad and Sydney FC.
We were very nervous in the first half. You re obviously on a hiding to nothing against an amateur club, and not winning last year just increased the pressure on us, said Jose.
Ahly club, invincible champions of Africa, gave it their all against Brazil’s Internacional de Porto Alegre at the Fifa Club World Cup semi-finals yesterday but in the end, samba and South American football dazzle overwhelmed them.
The Egyptian side lost 1-2 to a more talented foe.
Internacional’s Alexandre Pato opened up the score card with a goal in the 23rd minute.Angolan striker Flavio, star of the previous game against Auckland City FC, equalized in the 54th minute from a Tarek Said a cross into the area. Flavio then headed the ball past Inter goalkeeper Clemer.
But alas the Egyptian net was again shaken in the 72nd minute when Luiz Adriano struck for the Brazilians.
