Would the global trade come to a standstill as supply chain crisis worsens?    EBRD vice president heads delegation to Egypt to discuss new country strategy    The unvaccinated prohibited from entry to Egypt state institutions starting December 1    Egypt, Cyprus sign deal for electricity grid link    Russia to lift COVID restrictions on flights to Egypt's Red Sea resorts on Nov. 9    Egypt, Greece ink deal for first subsea power link between Europe and Africa    Egypt hosts regional conference of EU refugee agency EASO    SCOHRE sparks discussion on harm reduction, tobacco control    Egypt to receive first of six high-trains from Spain's Talgo in mid-November    Egypt's iron and steel exports jump 197% in 8 months    Ethiopia halts work at its embassy in Egypt for 'economic reasons'    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Over 100 officials resign from Tunisia's main Islamist party    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egyptian court bans use of mosques for political purposes    Brazil calls up 8 EPL players for World Cup qualifying    Refugees in fear as sentiment turns against them in Turkey    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Sisi calls on House, Senate to commence second legislative sessions on 3, 5 October    Huawei Technologies has invested $10 mln over 5 years in innovation centres in Egypt    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    Qa'a play showing at Lycee El Horreya Theatre, Alexandria is a must go    Orange Egypt Introduces Amazon Prime Video    Tokyo Olympics: Cautious opening ceremony, shy start for Egyptians in competitions    Mallawi Museum in Upper Egypt holds recycling workshop for children during Eid Al-Adha    Egypt keen on stable tax policies to attract more investors: Finance Minister    Sudan declares state of emergency as water goes beyond Merowe Dam capacity    Niagara Falls illuminated in Egyptian flag to mark 23 July Revolution anniversary    Capital flows into EM keep recovering after March 2020 slump: Central Bank of Egypt    1 child orphaned every 12 seconds due to COVID-19-associated death: World Bank    Egypt, Japanese Olympic Committee discuss boosting sports cooperation    US emphasises AU's role in mediating Ethiopian damdispute    Ethiopia ready to resume dam talks with no legally binding agreements: Ethiopian official    Sunken city of Thônis-Heracleion in Egypt's Abu Qir bay yields new archaeological treasures    New films, concerts, and destinations for Eid Al-Adha holidays    Egypt, Oman discuss enhancing bilateral economic, investment relations    Al Ahly v Kaizer Chiefs: Cairo giants eye 10th CAF Champions League title    Tunisia hopes to have a UN role in resolving Egypt-Ethiopia dam dispute    APO Group enters new exclusive agreement with Getty Images on African press releases and images    On International Museum Day, Egypt opens two new museums at Cairo Airport    Old Cairo's Al-Fustat will be revamped on Egyptian President's directives    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Next for Ahly
Inas Mazhar Published in Ahram Online on 16 - 02 - 2021

The reigning African champions Ahly were scheduled to open their African Champions League campaign on Tuesday by facing Sudan's Merrikh in the first match of the group stages of the continent's most prestigious club football competition. Simba of Tanzania and Vita Club of DR Congo round out Group A.
In an all-Egyptian final, Ahly had beaten archrivals Zamalek 2-1 for last year's African trophy, their record-extending ninth title.
Ahly fans continued celebrating their team's historic achievement in the FIFA Club World Cup. Ahly defeated Brazilian giants Palmeiras 3-2 on penalties in the play-off for third place to win the bronze medal for the second time in the club's history. Their first bronze was claimed in the 2006 edition in Japan.
Ahly had also defeated hosts Al-Duhail 1-0 in the opener before European champions Bayern Munich beat Ahly 2-0 in the semi-final to win the trophy for the second time by beating Concacaf's Tigres UANL of Mexico in the final. The German team who claimed their maiden title of the competition in 2013, thus earned their sixth trophy in a year, a feat only achieved once before by Barcelona in the 2008/09 season.
The FIFA Club World Cup is the first FIFA tournament to be staged in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The event saw six matches being played at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium and the Education City Stadium, where 12 goals were scored, an average of 1.7 per game. Top scorers were Andre-Piere Gignac of Tigres UANL who scored three goals while Robert Lewandowski scored two. Lewandowski also claimed the Golden Ball Award, while Andre-Pierre Gignac claimed the Silver Ball Award. The Bronze Ball Award went to Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich and the Fair Play Award went to Al-Duhail SC.
According to Aly's football team director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz, winning the bronze medal was great, “but the event is over now and there is no time for celebrating. We need to focus now on defending our CAF Champions League title, which we won last year. The home and away games against Merrikh will be very tough and we need to concentrate on both games. In the Champions League, we take it in stages because each stage is different and the challenges vary,” he said.
On the other hand, the Egyptian Football Association has decided to postpone Ahly, Zamalek and Pyramid matches in the round of 32 in the FA Cup because of their engagements in the African competitions. Ahly are the defending champions of the FA Cup after beating Talaea Al-Geish in the final last year.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 18 February, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

Clic here to read the story from its source.