Club World Cup: Can Mosimane’s Ahly change Africa’s fortunes?

Al-Ahly will represent Africa at the Club World Cup after winning last year’s Caf Champions League.

The Red Devils defeated fierce local rivals SC Zamalek to win the crown—their record-extending ninth—to qualify for the tournament.

They’ve been there before, of course—without much success—but Ahly fans will hope that the presence of the experienced Pitso Mosimane can help them make more of an impact this time around.

The South African coach reached the competition with Mamelodi Sundowns back in 2016, but will be expected to perform better this time around.

His team are unbeaten in over 30 matches, and after snaring a treble last year, they’ll fancy their chances of making an impact in Qatar.

The continent’s most recent disappointment in the Club World Cup came in 2019, when Esperance were beaten 1-0 by Al-Hilal in Doha.

They redeemed themselves somewhat by defeating Qatar’s Al-Sadd in the fifth-placed playoff—but their early exit extended Africa’s poor record in the competition.

Can defending Caf Champions League holders Ahly do better this time around, and amend Africa’s poor record in the tournament?

Since the inception of the Club World Cup, African teams have played 42 matches in the tournament, winning just 11.

There have been three draws, and 28 defeats, which highlights the scale of the challenge facing Mosimane.

To date, Africa’s teams have a win percentage of 26.1 percent.

Africa’s teams have faced opposition from Asia more times than those from any other confederation in the history of the tournament.

Of their 42 matches in the Club World Cup, 17 have been against teams from the AFC region.

Africa’s sides haven’t fared well in these matches, with only two victories.

As well as Esperance’s aforementioned triumph against Al-Sadd, Al-Ahly also defeated Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 in the quarter-finals in 2012.

Unsurprisingly, as Africa’s most successful side in the Caf Champions League, and the continent’s ‘Club of the Century’, Al-Ahly have represented the continent in the CWC more than any other club.

The Egyptian giants have featured in five editions of the tournament so far, although while they’ve played 12 times against overseas opposition, they last represented the continent in 2013 – when they finished sixth.

Ahly are also responsible for Africa’s worst defeat for an African team in the competition, when they were beaten 5-1 by Monterrey of Mexico in the fifth-placed playoff in Marrakesh.

It was a miserable day for a side containing African greats like Ahmed Fathy, Wael Gomaa and Emad Moteab.

The Club World Cup has exclusively been won by teams from Uefa or Conmebol, with European teams winning 12 titles and South American sides winning the other four.

On four occasions, finalists have been produced by Asian federations (two) or African federations (two).

African teams have been undone by European sides on all three occasions including two finals, with Internazionale denying Tout Puissant Mazembe in 2010 and Raja Casablanca denied by Bayern Munich three years later.

Source:Goal.com