Al Qanah midfielder Moudi Shalata reveals two major career ambitions after Al Ahly heroics

Al Qanah midfielder Moudi Shalata has revealed his two major career ambitions after an impressive performance against Al Ahly, expressing his desire to play for the Egyptian national team and secure a move to Europe.

Shalata delivered a standout display in Al Qanah’s 3-3 draw with the Egyptian giants, earning the Man of the Match award despite his side being unable to secure all three points.

The midfielder admitted that the past few weeks had been difficult for him but said he approached the match with confidence, motivated by the support he had received from Al Qanah coach Abdel Nasser Mohamed.

“The past period was not good for me, but I entered the Al-Ahly match confident in delivering a great performance, in appreciation of Abdel Nasser Mohamed who supported me a lot in the past period,” Shalata said.

The midfielder also opened up about his early football journey, revealing that he once dreamed of playing for Al Ahly but failed to make the grade during a trial with the Cairo-based club.

According to Shalata, his father played an important role in keeping his hopes alive, encouraging him by reminding him that Mohamed Barakat had also failed to impress during an Al Ahly trial before going on to become a celebrated player.

Shalata explained that his nickname came from his father and disclosed that he began his career at Banha before progressing through the ranks of Egyptian football.

Reflecting on his goal against Al Ahly, the midfielder insisted that his focus was on making an impact for his team rather than targeting an individual opponent.

“Mohamed Hany is a great player, but I didn’t look at him when I scored the goal. My goal was to do something for myself, my coach, and my team,” he added.

Despite his disappointment at dropping points, Shalata praised Al Qanah’s performance and acknowledged Al Ahly’s reputation for producing decisive moments late in matches.

“We were sad because of the draw, but Al Ahly are the team that can kill in the final moments, but overall we delivered a remarkable performance,” he said.

Looking ahead, the midfielder remains focused on taking the next steps in his career, with representing Egypt at international level and playing professionally in Europe firmly on his mind.

“I hope to play for the Egyptian national team and play professionally in Europe, that is my dream, and talking about joining Al-Ahly or Zamalek is premature,” Shalata stated.