The semi-final return of the African Champions League between Al Ahly and Coton Sport on Sunday raised the possibility of it being the last match in the illustrious career of Mohamed Abou Treika. The Egyptian midfielder had already declared his retirement from sports earlier in the week, following the disappointing performance of the Pharaohs in Kumasi against Ghana in the first leg of the 2014 World Cup play-offs.
Despite contemplating retirement, Abou Treika expressed a desire to participate in the Club World Cup scheduled for December in Morocco before officially ending his career. However, the realization of this plan hinged on the outcome of the penalty shootout between Al Ahly and Coton Sport.
In a twist of fate, Abou Treika, the first player to take a penalty against Coton Sport, unexpectedly hit the post. This turn of events added an element of drama to the retirement narrative of one of Egyptian football’s most successful players. Subsequently, Yougouda also missed his penalty before Haman’s crucial miss in the shootout.
A true legend of African football, Abou Treika faced the prospect of bidding farewell to world football with a penalty miss. Yet, the possibility remains for him to have another opportunity to make amends.
