CAIRO: Nineteen-year-old Shehab Ahmed stole the limelight at Cairo Stadium with a 40-yard strike that helped Ahly to a 3-0 win over Libya’s Ittihad, and now he’s eager to establish himself at the Cairo club.
Shehab, a product of Ahly’s youth system, completed the rout deep into injury time in the CAF Champions League round of 16 tie, to seal the Red Devils’ qualification on Sunday.
The up-and-coming youngster believes that he had a good season with Ahly but nothing will satisfy him except a regular place in the Egyptian champions’ starting eleven.
Recent reports suggested that former Ahly midfielders Hossam Ghaly and Mohamed Shawky could rejoin the six-time African champions in the summer, which would diminish Shehab’s senior-team prospect.
But the starlet, nicknamed the sniper, assured that he will persevere.
"I respect both players but I’m looking to play first-team football," Shehab told FilGoal.com. "I have the right to do so.
"I have come a long way, thanks to playing alongside veterans like (Mohamed) Abou-Treika, (Mohamed) Barakat and Ahmed Hassan. They always give the youngsters valuable advices.
"My current objective is to prove my worth with Ahly. Maybe in the future I will consider joining a foreign club."
Shehab was promoted to a first-teamer by head coach Hossam Al-Badri, has been keen to inject new blood into the squad since taking the helm last summer.
Capabilities
The attacking midfielder gave Al-Badri the credit for his trademark long-range shots.
"He told me to shot on target whenever I have the chance. He believes in my capabilities," said Shehab, who also scored with a 40-yard effort against Mansoura in the Egyptian Premier League late in April.
Apart from Shehab, Affroto, Ahmed Shokri, Ayman Ashraf, Abdullah Farouk, Mostafa Shebeita, Ahmed Ali and goalie Ahmed Adel were included in Ahly’s senior team for the first time.
Most of them made quite a few appearances on all fronts this season.
