Sayed Moawad defends son Omar after Al Ahly omission for Egypt Cup tie

Sayed Moawad has defended his son Omar after the Al Ahly midfielder was left out of the squad to face Al Sekka Al Hadid in the Egypt Cup.

Al Ahly manager Hussein Amouta omitted Omar from the squad for Saturday’s last-32 match, prompting his father to explain a post he published on Instagram after the selection was announced.

Speaking to MBC Masr2, Sayed Moawad said: “When a person feels angry, they cannot control their reaction. But Omar is at the best club in Africa and is doing the role required of him. His opportunity will definitely come, and when it does, he will take it.”

He added: “Al Ahly are a big team and the competition there is difficult, but he is performing his role in the best possible way. The most important thing is that he has good fortune when his opportunity comes and is able to make the most of it.”

Omar’s omission means he will not be involved when Al Ahly begin their Egypt Cup campaign against Al Sekka Al Hadid on Saturday.

The Al Ahly squad is:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Hamza Alaa.

Defenders: Achraf Dari, Ahmed Eid, Hady Riyad, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany, Karim Fouad, Tawfik Mohamed, Karim El Debes.

Midfielders: Ahmed Reda, Akram Tawfik, Afsha, Ali Mahmoud, Mohamed Abdullah, Hussein El Shahat, Ahmed Sayed “Zizo”, Omar El Saai.

Forwards: Sofiane Benjeddah, Moncef Bekrar, Achraf Bencharki, Mahmoud Salah, Mohamed Raafat.

Moawad said Omar was continuing to fulfil his responsibilities within the squad despite facing competition for places at Al Ahly. He expressed confidence that the player would be ready to take advantage of his chance when it arrived.

Al Ahly’s selection includes goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy and a number of established first-team players, alongside younger squad members. Egypt Cup ties are played on a knockout basis, making Saturday’s match a direct route into the next round for the winner.

For Omar, the decision represents another absence from an Al Ahly matchday squad, while his father’s comments were intended to underline his belief that the midfielder remains committed to the team and is waiting for an opportunity to demonstrate his ability.