CAF Champions League: Ex-Egypt defender Wael Gomaa criticises referee after Al Ahly’s defeat to Esperance

Former Al Ahly defender Wael Gomaa has strongly criticised the officiating following the Egyptian side’s defeat to Esperance in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarter final.

Al Ahly suffered a narrow 1-0 loss on Sunday evening, with the decisive goal coming from a penalty awarded to the Tunisian club during the encounter.

Speaking as a pundit on beIN SPORTS, Gomaa expressed disappointment with the result, insisting that the Cairo giants had the quality to secure a positive outcome but lacked the attacking sharpness needed to convert their opportunities.

He said, “Al-Ahly missed a victory that was within reach, were it not for the absence of a true striker who translates half-chances into goals.”

Gomaa further suggested that the team’s attacking structure was not effective enough to break down their opponents.

He added, “Al-Ahly had the ability to win against Esperance, if it weren’t for the lack of offensive organization.”

The former Egypt international also questioned the mentality displayed by the players during the contest.

He continued, “Al-Ahly players did not have the real ferocity to achieve victory.”

Gomaa also raised concerns about the refereeing decisions that influenced the outcome of the match. In particular, he pointed to the penalty awarded to Esperance, arguing that the decision remained controversial.

He stressed, “The penalty kick awarded to Esperance is shrouded in doubt after Mohamed Hany’s handball.”

According to Gomaa, Al Ahly were also denied a spot kick in the closing moments of the first half after Ashraf Ben Sharqi was allegedly fouled inside the penalty area.

He explained, “But the referee overlooked awarding a penalty kick to Al-Ahly in stoppage time of the first half, after Ashraf Ben Sharqi was fouled.”

Gomaa ended his remarks with a strong accusation regarding the officiating in the match.

He concluded, “We assume bad faith on the part of the referee, and his decisions are very strange.”