Abdel Rahman Hameed: Al Ahly stay is priority despite overseas offers

“Those 20 seconds were the hardest of my career so far. There were 20 seconds left, Zamalek had the ball, and a goal would have sent the African title from Al Ahly to our traditional rivals.”

Abdel Rahman Hameed was recalling the closing moments of Al Ahly’s dramatic 26-25 victory over Zamalek in the African Champions League final in Angola, a result which secured another continental trophy for the Cairo club.

The goalkeeper also played a key role as Al Ahly defeated European champions Fuchse Berlin before overcoming Zamalek 30-25 to win bronze at the Club World Cup.

Hameed told FilGoal.com that the final’s last attack remains one of the most intense moments of his career. He said the ball before Mody’s goal had stayed in his memory because one mistake could have completely changed the outcome of the tournament.

Handball goalkeepers must be ready to perform when there is no margin for error, he added, while accepting that luck can also play a part in decisive moments.

Fuchse Berlin the standout match

Hameed regards the victory over Fuchse Berlin as the most important match of his career, even ahead of Al Ahly’s win against Barcelona two years ago.

He said the German side’s strength, and the effect of the result on Al Ahly’s hopes of challenging for the leading positions, made the game particularly significant. The expectations had favoured Fuchse Berlin, but Al Ahly overturned them before defeating Zamalek around 48 hours later.

Those victories demonstrated that Al Ahly can compete with the world’s leading teams, Hameed said. A club’s reputation should not decide a match before it begins if the opposition is properly prepared and believes it can win.

He also highlighted the importance of rotation, allowing players who have made major physical efforts to rest while team-mates take responsibility. That approach gives the coaching staff greater control over workloads during a demanding sequence of matches.

Team effort behind Al Ahly success

Hameed said Al Ahly’s achievements were the product of a complete structure rather than one player. He credited Khaled El Awady, the coaching staff and the squad, as well as the physical, medical and technical departments.

The preparation of goalkeepers was particularly important in ensuring they were ready for major games, he said.

Hameed explained that he does not rely primarily on video analysis when studying attackers. Instead, he prefers to assess their movements and decisions during matches, building a picture of their habits through his reactions and observations. He said this method had been part of his game since childhood.

Contract decision still to come

Hameed said playing for Al Ahly brought significant pressure because supporters expected the club to challenge for every domestic and African trophy. He tries to treat criticism as part of sport, while insisting that disagreements should remain respectful.

His current contract expires at the end of this season and he has received overseas offers with favourable conditions. However, continuing with Al Ahly remains his priority if the club wants him for additional seasons.

He also hopes Egypt can reach the semi-finals of the next World Championship and produce a strong performance at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.