Substituted by his coach just before the final whistle, Aboutrika lingered on the pitch, exchanging gestures with the audience. The Egyptian veteran gracefully bowed before exiting, leaving the lingering question of his departure unanswered.
Single-handedly responsible for clinching the Red Devils’ latest championship, Aboutrika showcased his prowess. A pivotal scorer in the first leg, he once again initiated the scoring at the Arab Contractors stadium on Sunday, setting the stage for his teammates. Aboutrika stands as a shining example of a successful African footballer, consistently impressing over the years with unwavering performance.
At 35, Aboutrika remains formidable. Despite securing three CANs (2006, 2008, 2010) on his own, he has shown no signs of decline. However, a significant blow to his morale came with Egypt’s crushing defeat (1-6) against Ghana last October. Subsequently, he announced his retirement, culminating in a final gift of an African coronation to his beloved club. A versatile midfielder, he is dubbed as a blend of Pirlo (for his free kicks), Zidane for his ball finesse, and Xabi Alonso for his strategic game vision.
As the Club World Cup looms, a competition for which he played a significant role in Al Ahly’s qualification, Aboutrika’s departure seems uncertain to coach Mohamed Youssef. “I will exert every effort to persuade Mohamed Aboutrika to participate in the Club World Cup. The decision lies with him. I am aware of his initial plan to retire after this victory,” revealed the coach on Sunday.
One certainty remains—he will once again represent the national colors in the upcoming Tuesday clash in the 2014 World Cup play-offs against Ghana. A successful qualification would elevate him further in the annals of African football history. Nevertheless, with five continental titles (2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2013) with Al Ahly (his club since 2004), Aboutrika would be forgiven if he chose to conclude his illustrious career at this point.
