A moment of history deserves more witnesses than were permitted at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca at the weekend, and probably more of a tough contest too. But these are unusual times, and the compensation for Al Ahly, as they celebrated a landmark 10th African Champions Cup after comfortably defeating Kaizer Chiefs in the final, is that they can foresee their grip on the trophy lasting well into a future where supporters are again allowed into arenas in big numbers.
Champions Cup number 10, ‘El Ashra’, followed number nine very quickly, with the rejigged calendar meaning less than eight months passed between Al Ahly’s victory - also in a vacated stadium - over Zamalek in the 2020 final and Saturday’s 3-0 win over South Africa’s Chiefs.
In the immediate aftermath, Pitso Mosimane, Al Ahly’s head coach, pointed ahead to the next target, a strong placing at the end-of-year Fifa Club World Cup, where the Egyptian giants will now join Chelsea, European Cup holders, and the other respective continental champions.
“We beat the team from Conmebol [South America] there last year,” Mosimane pointed out, in one of his characteristic rallying cries for self-belief in African football. “Africa can stand up against the South Americans and we sometimes give the Europeans too much respect.”
Had there been no Covid-19 pandemic, this would have been the summer to truly test the global hierarchy of club football. It was to have been the launch date of an expanded version of the Club World Cup - 24 leading clubs, drawn from each continent, were to have lined up in China for what Fifa billed as the equivalent of a World Cup for the club game.
The global health crisis meant the event was postponed, but the concept remains on the sport’s agenda. It hopes to act as an antidote to the push for a Super League by some wealthy European clubs - the super-sized Club World Cup would bring in a new, regular income stream - and as a recognition that excellence in club football is not confined to Europe and South America. Since 2010, five of the finalists in the current Club World Cup format have come from either Africa, central America or Asia.
Plans to expand the Club World Cup are also an acknowledgement that while individual talent invariably migrates to the wealthy clubs of western Europe, it starts from far and wide. “Why are Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah conquering the European Champions League?” asked Mosimane. “Africa has the resources.”
That includes coaching, Mosimane stressed: “Europeans are always coming to Africa to coach, but Africans can win things ourselves.” Mosimane styles himself as the proof. He is from South Africa - he grew up with an affection for Kaizer Chiefs - and he proudly displayed a South African flag after Al Ahly’s win over a Chiefs side who were down to 10 men for the entire second half in Casablanca.
Europeans are always coming to Africa to coach, but Africans can win things ourselves
Ahly coach Mosimane
His flag-waving both reminded his countrymen he still has them at heart, while showing he is confident that his Egyptian employers have enough faith in his commitment to them not to feel betrayed. Last year Mosimane became the first African coach from outside Egypt put in charge at Al Ahly. He now has three African Champions Cups to his name, the first with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016.
Several of his Al Ahly players will quickly have another opportunity on the big stage, albeit without much on-site audience. Four of those who took apart Kaizer Chiefs in Saturday’s final are in Egypt’s Olympic Games squad, including Akram Tawfik, who had a lively final up and down the right flank, and, as one of the three permitted over-23 players, the goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. They have little time to catch their breath. Egypt take on Spain, the Olympic favourites, on Thursday in Sapporo.
Olympic men’s football has a tradition of African excellence. In five of the last seven Games, an African country has medalled. Egypt, though disappointed that Salah was prevented from joining their bid to join that list by his club, Liverpool, have sent a strong squad. So have Ivory Coast, who have the blessing of Manchester United to field Eric Bailly and Amad Diallo.
South Africa, the third qualifier from Africa, are beset with problems. No sooner had the Kaizer Chiefs players, Reeve Frosler and Nkonsingiphile Ngcobo dusted themselves down from the crushing defeat by Al Ahly and set off for Tokyo than they learned two colleagues in the South Africa squad had tested positive for Covid-19, disrupting preparations for their tournament opening, a taxing fixture against the hosts, Japan.
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UAE and Russia in numbers
UAE-Russia ties stretch back 48 years
Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018
More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE
Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE
The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
How to donate
Text the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
6025 - Dh 20
2252 - Dh 50
2208 - Dh 100
6020 - Dh 200
*numbers work for both Etisalat and du
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
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