Al-Ahly is on a journey searching for a “new medal” in the Club World Cup

Al-Ahly is competing in the 2022 Club World Cup in Morocco, and it aims to achieve a new medal in the tournament, in which it is participating for the third time in a row, but it is the eighth in its history.

The runner-up of the African continent will start the tournament against Auckland City, New Zealand, tomorrow, Wednesday, in the preliminary round, in which Al-Ahly will participate for the first time, as it was constantly starting from the next round.

Al-Ahly was not going to participate in the tournament after losing the CAF Champions League final to Wydad, the Moroccan league champion, but holding the tournament in Morocco gave him the opportunity to appear in the competition in light of the inability of two teams from one country to participate, as the champion of the country that owns the land usually qualifies.

The confrontation with Auckland City is not strange for the team, as it was its gateway to obtaining the bronze medal in 2006, after beating it 2-0 in its first match in the tournament at the time, before losing to the Brazilian Internacional and then defeating the Mexican Club America.

Al-Ahly succeeded in achieving third place in the last two editions of the tournament, Qatar 2020 and UAE 2021, and hopes to follow the same approach, at least in Morocco, and add a new medal, which was confirmed by its player, Hussein Al-Shahat.

Al-Shahat, who scored the goal to beat Al-Duhail in 2020, told his club’s website, “This time I dream of achieving the gold medal with Al-Ahly after I achieved two bronze medals. This is the feeling of all my colleagues, and we dream of achieving a new achievement.”

On facing Auckland, he said, “It will not be easy. We are among the seven best teams in the world and it will not be an easy match for any team.

Mahmoud Al-Khatib, President of Al-Ahly, asked the players of his team to make every effort and present a level befitting the team, its history, and the happiness of its fans.

As for Sayed Abdel Hafeez, director of football at Al-Ahly, he confirmed that his team’s players are in full technical and physical fitness, and stressed the team’s endeavor to achieve a new achievement in its eighth participation in the tournament.

And if Al-Ahly wins, he will play against the American Seattle Sounders, in a match in which the winner will face European champion Real Madrid in the semi-final round of the tournament, which will witness the participation of two additional Arab teams, Wydad and Saudi Al Hilal. The two Arab teams will play together on Saturday.