Eighteen days ago, Ahly left Cairo bound for Jeddah to face Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Club World Cup, amidst scathing criticism and public backlash against the head coach, Marcel Koller, and his comrades.
The woes for Ahly had begun in mid-September when they lost the African Super Cup to USM Alger in Taif, and since then, the narrative had not changed.
A string of lackluster performances and disappointing results led to their exit from the African Super League, defeated by Sundowns, and relinquishing easy points in the Egyptian League and the African group stage.
The post-September period in Saudi Arabia became a shock for Ahly’s fans, considering that the same elements had crafted a historic season, clinching domestic and continental titles after a prolonged drought.
Anxiety levels heightened with speculations about Koller’s departure, fueled by the enigmatic message delivered by his translator, stating, “He has been handed over to the fans and the media.”
Fate had it that Ahly’s return from Saudi Arabia would also mark a turnaround, this time through the vibrant city of Jeddah and its shining gem.
Ahly defied expectations and market value theories, securing a triumphant victory against the home team, Al-Ittihad, with a scoreline of 3-1.
The exceptional performance was only marred by Modeste’s lackluster display and a red card within a mere three minutes of participation.
The team came tantalizingly close to reaching the final for the first time in its history against Fluminense, only to be thwarted by physical challenges in the latter part of the encounter, favoring the Brazilian side.
However, the giant compensated for this with a new bronze medal, defeating Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds with an impressive four-goal display.
From Jeddah to Abu Dhabi, Ahly faced numerous challenges during the inaugural edition of the revamped Egyptian Super Cup, notably overcoming fatigue.
Ahly presented itself well in Abu Dhabi, surpassing Ceramica Cleopatra in the semi-finals, marking the official return of Emam Ashour.
For the first time, Anthony Modeste’s header secured a title for Ahly, rejuvenating the team’s strategic plans and adding $2.75 million to its coffers.
