Former Al Ahly winger Ahmed El Sheikh blames Pitso Mosimane for early exit

Former Al Ahly SC winger Ahmed El Sheikh has spoken candidly about his time at the club, revealing that a difficult relationship with coach Pitso Mosimane played a key role in his departure.

El Sheikh spent several years with the Egyptian giants, though his stay included a number of loan spells as he struggled to secure a regular place in the starting line-up.

Mosimane, popularly known as Jingles, was appointed head coach of Al Ahly in October 2020 after a successful spell with Mamelodi Sundowns.

When the South African tactician arrived, El Sheikh was already part of the squad. However, their time together proved brief.

Just two months into Mosimane’s reign, El Sheikh left Al Ahly and joined rivals Pyramids FC on a free transfer, ending his chapter with the club.

According to reports from Sports Leb, El Sheikh said his reduced role at Al Ahly was largely due to Mosimane not being fully convinced by his abilities.

The winger explained that despite working hard in training, he was overlooked for important matches because he failed to gain the coach’s full confidence.

Now a free agent, El Sheikh admitted that Mosimane’s stance heavily influenced his decision to seek a move elsewhere.

Despite the fallout, Mosimane enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Al Ahly, leading the club to two CAF Champions League titles and several other honours before departing in 2022 to join Al Ahli Saudi FC.