Al Ahly manager Pitso Mosimane has said the bronze medal won at the Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi is a better achievement than the last time they finished third in Qatar 2020.
The African and Egyptian champions thrashed Al Hilal, the Asian Champions League holders, 4-0 at Al Nahyan Stadium on Saturday in the third-place play-off.
Hamdi Fathi opened the scoring in the eighth minute, before Hilal were reduced to 10 men when Matheus Pereira was sent off six minutes later. Yasser Ibrahim doubled Ahly's lead shortly after and Hilal's task to get back into the game was made near-impossible after Mohammed Kano also received his marching orders midway through the first half. Ahly made their Saudi opponents pay by making it 3-0 through Ahmed Abdel Kader five minutes before the break, and Amr El Solia completed the rout in the 64th minute.
“For me, this was the medal this season, it’s better than the medal we won last time,” Mosimane said. “We played against nine men in the play-off but we would have won even if that didn’t happen."
Ahly's preparations for the Club World Cup were significantly affected as they had several players in the Egypt squad which reached the Africa Cup of Nations final. Those players joined the squad at the end of an exhausting campaign but that didn’t help them in the semi-finals, going down to Brazilian side Palmeiras 2-0.
"We arrived for this competition with six of our players on national duty at the Africa Cup of Nations," Mosimane added. “We had many injured players in our squad and many more who joined after the Africa Cup of Nations. To play and win a bronze under these circumstances showed the spirit and character of this team.
“As the head coach, I know how hard it was for us to play at this level with all the issues we faced. So, it was a very satisfying result at the end to return with a bronze.”
Mosimane also paid tribute to the Ahly fans for turning out in large numbers and supporting the team in Abu Dhabi.
“They are great, and they deserve to win championships and titles. I am proud of this crowd, and certainly we always work to make them happy with championships,” he said.
“Ahly has a new mission in the Africa Champions League, which we will fight to win. And returning again to the Club World Cup next year, to play for a better position and a bigger medal.”
Hilal manager Leonardo Jardim took the defeat graciously after the Asian champions were reduced to nine players.
“Our match was as good as over when we had two players sent off in the first half,” the Portuguese said. “We tried to adjust the situation by making changes, in order to control the middle of the field but we were unable to do so, as things changed for the worse, and we were unable to return to the match. The decisions were correct and contributed to our losing control of the match.”
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The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
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UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
England squad
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
THE RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Alnawar, Connor Beasley (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Raniah, Noel Garbutt, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Saarookh, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Rated Conditions Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: RB Torch, Tadhg O’Shea, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: MH Wari, Antonio Fresu, Elise Jeane
7.30pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,600m
Winner: Mailshot, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Ahmed Raza, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Chirag Suri , Zahoor Khan
