Egyptian giants Al Ahly eye global glory at FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Egyptian giants Al Ahly are just days away from embarking on their FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024 campaign, with the team set to face the winner of Wednesday’s clash between Brazil’s Botafogo and Mexico’s Pachuca.

The Challenger Cup showdown will take place on Saturday in Doha with the African giants taking on the winner of Wednesday's fixture in the Qatari capital.

Having earned their spot by triumphing in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Asian champions Al Ain, the Cairo-based side are riding high on confidence. 

Ahly now dream of progressing to face European champions Real Madrid in the Intercontinental Cup final.

Winning Mentality Drives Al Ahly

Midfielder Marwan Attia reflected on the club’s ethos of performing on the biggest stage.

“Al Ahly are accustomed to competing in major tournaments – that’s who we are, it’s in our nature,” he said after their latest triumph.

His confidence reflects the team’s record-breaking history, including 12 CAF Champions League titles and a string of domestic and continental trophies.

Veteran defender Omar Kamal highlighted the team’s resilience under pressure.

“Al Ahly’s character really emerges when we’re under pressure. We showed this in the African Super Cup, the Egyptian Super Cup, and again against Al Ain,” he said. 

Kamal, who is a key player for Ahly, emphasized the importance of focus and respect for their opponents.

Prepared for Big Challenges

Mahmoud Kahraba, one of Al Ahly’s stars, underlined the club’s hunger for titles. “We always focus on winning big and important games because it offers us a new title,” he said.

Kahraba praised the fans for their unwavering support, which has become a hallmark of the team’s success.

Reflecting on the magnitude of the upcoming matches, Attia added: “Meeting Real Madrid is certainly a motivating factor for us as they’re the biggest club in the world. God willing, we’ll be able to face them in the final.”

Building on Experience

With a rich history in global competitions, including four appearances in the past five FIFA Club World Cups, Al Ahly’s experience provides a crucial edge.

“Experience from past editions gave us confidence,” said Kamal.

“We don’t take any game for granted because they’re all big teams.”

As the countdown to Saturday’s game continues, Al Ahly’s players are focused on extending their legacy on the global stage.