Egypt to begin second phase of universal health insurance in Minya    Madrid trade talks focus on TikTok as US and China seek agreement    Egypt hosts 4th African Trade Ministers' Retreat to accelerate AfCFTA implementation    Egypt's Investment Minister, World Bank discuss strengthening partnership    El Hamra Port emerges as regional energy hub attracting foreign investment: Petroleum Minister    Power of Proximity: How Egyptian University Students Fall in Love with Their Schools Via Social Media Influencers    Egypt wins Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Esna revival project    Egypt's Sisi, Qatar's Emir condemn Israeli strikes, call for Gaza ceasefire    Egypt's gold prices hold steady on Sep. 15th    EHA launches national telemedicine platform with support from Egyptian doctors abroad    Egypt's Foreign Minister, Pakistani counterpart meet in Doha    Egypt condemns terrorist attack in northwest Pakistan    Emergency summit in Doha as Gaza toll rises, Israel targets Qatar    Egypt advances plans to upgrade historic Cairo with Azbakeya, Ataba projects    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Lebanese Prime Minister visits Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    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    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    







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.