The Club World Cup officially opened on December 11, with a play-off match between local representative Raja Casablanca and New Zealand’s Auckland City at the Grand Stade in Agadir. The competition, which runs until December 21, features the champion teams of the six world football confederations (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, and OFC).
Al Ahly, the reigning African champion, is set to play against the Chinese team Guangzhou Evergrande this Saturday. If Al Ahly manages to win, they will face the German team Bayern Munich in the next round. The Egyptians are approaching the competition in less than ideal conditions due to socio-political unrest in Egypt affecting their preparation.
Despite the challenges, Al Ahly coach Mohamad Youssef remains optimistic, relying on the experience of his players to compensate for the lack of ideal preparation. The team aims to achieve a better feat than in 2006 when they won the bronze medal. Emad Meteab, a striker for Al Ahly, expressed the team’s determination to perform well in the tournament. Bayern Munich, despite a recent defeat in the Champions League against Manchester City, arrives in Morocco with a strong squad and a desire to add the Club World Cup to their achievements.
