Al Ahly forward Taher Mohamed Taher has voiced frustration over missing part of the FIFA Club World Cup due to injury but insists his teammates can still make history by advancing to the knockout stage.
The Egyptian side suffered a 2-0 defeat to Brazil’s Palmeiras after opening their Group A campaign with a goalless draw against Inter Miami.
With just one point from two matches, Al Ahly face a must-win showdown with Portuguese giants Porto in their final group fixture early Tuesday.
Speaking to the media, Taher admitted he is puzzled by the team’s inconsistent second-half performances.
“I don’t have a clear explanation for what’s happening, but we have to try and change things. Maybe we need to start games with more calmness and focus to better manage our energy,” he said.
He highlighted the scheduling of the Porto match as an advantage. “It’s a positive that our final group game against Porto will be played at night in U.S. time (early morning Cairo time), unlike the Palmeiras match where we struggled due to the high temperature,” he added.
Taher expressed disappointment at being sidelined following the Inter Miami game, stating he had hoped to play a larger role in the campaign.
“I was hoping to help my teammates more during the tournament,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the 28-year-old remains optimistic about Al Ahly’s qualification chances.
“We still have a chance to go through. We will fight to make history and reach the Round of 16 with a win over Porto, then wait for the qualification scenarios.”
Al Ahly take on Porto at 01:00 GMT on Tuesday in Charlotte, needing all three points and favourable results elsewhere to extend their campaign at the Club World Cup.
