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-to-head in Club World Cup Final
Afsha’s goal against Seattle Sounders propelled Al Ahly to their third consecutive semifinals and fifth overall
Al-Ahly midfielder Mohamed Afsha says the Egyptian side will “definitely give their all” as they prepare to face European champions Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-finals in Morocco on Wednesday.
Afsha’s deflected shot in the 88th minute gave the Red Devils a late winner as they defeated Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Saturday and crafted a tricky draw against the four-time winners.
Appealing to an eighth tournament, Al Ahly drove past New Zealand’s Auckland City 3-0 in the only first-round tie but is still chasing their first win over European opponents at this level.
“Real Madrid are the best team in the world and it’s my childhood team, but we’ll give everything we have by playing to win,” said Afsha.
Al Ahly, Africa’s most successful team and one of the most successful in the world, are among the bottom four regulars at this tournament.
The ten-time African champions finished third in 2006, 2020 and 2021, and the Egyptian giants are in the semi-finals for a third straight season and fifth time overall.
After losing to Bayern Munich in 2020 and Palmeiras in 2021, Ahly is determined to beat Real Madrid to secure a place in the final for the first time, according to striker Mahmoud Kahraba.
“It’s going to be a difficult game against Real Madrid because we’re playing the strongest team in the world, but nothing is impossible,” admitted Kahraba.
“Anything is possible and we trust in ourselves. All of our players are experienced men full of determination.”
“A dream match”
TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Raja Casablanca of Morocco delivered Africa’s best performances at the tournament, finishing runners-up in 2010 and 2013 respectively.
Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng, who has started both games in Morocco for Al Ahly, is undeterred by the task ahead against the 14-time European champions.
“It’s a dream game. If you told us you were going to play Real Madrid, we would have said, ‘No, you’re crazy’, but now it’s a reality, we’re going to play Real Madrid,” Dieng told Fifa- tv
“We will enjoy the top level and there will be no pressure. We will play the game the way we have to play it. I have to say it’s a dream come true.”
Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal and Flamengo of Brazil will meet in Tangier on Tuesday in the first semi-final.
It comes after African champions and hosts Wydad Casablanca suffered a 5-3 penalty shootout heartbreak after a 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal in Rabat on Saturday.
Wydad led through defender Ayoub El Amloud’s header from a deflected corner in the 52nd minute, but Mohamed Kanno equalized with a penalty in the 93rd minute after Yahya Jabrane worked the ball and was sent off.
Musab Al Juwayr converted the winning penalty after Moroccan World Cup full-back Yahya Attiat-Allah missed the hosts’ first shot.
The elimination of the African champions is a major blow to the Moroccan organizers, who are hoping for more international success soon after their national side reached the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar in December.
In August 2001, Nigerian striker Sunday Ibeji scored the only goal as African Club of the Century Al Ahly beat Uefa Club of the Century Real Madrid 1-0 in a friendly in Cairo.
Real presented its “Galaticos” such as Zinedine Zidane, Figo, Roberto Carlos, Claude Makelele, Raul and Salgado in Cairo.
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