logo
FC Porto fullback Moura expects tough test against African champions Ahly

FC Porto fullback Moura expects tough test against African champions Ahly

Al-Ahram Weekly5 hours ago

FC Porto left back Francisco Moura expects a challenging encounter against Egyptian giants Ahly, describing them as "the best team in Africa" ahead of their decisive Group Stage clash at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Porto and Ahly meet on Tuesday in a must-win match for both sides, who sit third and fourth respectively in Group B with one point each.
Group leaders Palmeiras and Inter Miami are tied on four points, meaning qualification for the semi-finals remains mathematically possible for all four teams.
'We expect a very tough game against Ahly,' Moura told FC Porto's official website on Sunday.
'They are a strong side — the best in Africa — so we have to be fully focused.'
The Portuguese side opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Palmeiras before suffering a 2-1 defeat to MLS club Inter Miami.
'We're not satisfied with the result against Inter Miami, but we have to put that behind us and concentrate fully on the match against Ahly,' Moura concluded.
Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link:

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

"We will fight to go through,": Ahly coach
"We will fight to go through,": Ahly coach

Al-Ahram Weekly

timean hour ago

  • Al-Ahram Weekly

"We will fight to go through,": Ahly coach

The Cairo giants will be desperate for a win on Tuesday when they meet Portuguese side FC Porto, with both teams set to conclude their group campaigns. For Ahly to progress, they also need Palmeiras, who lead the group on four points along with Inter Miami, to defeat the U.S. side. Failure to win in that scenario would see the Egyptian champions eliminated early. "We are focused on the game against FC Porto," Riveiro told reporters in a pre-match press conference on Sunday. "We still have a chance, and we will fight to keep that chance alive." "We are a big team with a great history. That is our identity." "We came here to compete, and we will fight," the Spanish coach added. Riveiro believes his team deserved better results in their opening two matches, which included a goalless draw against Inter Miami and a 2-0 defeat to Palmeiras. He pointed to strong individual performances, particularly in the first half against Miami, and a dominant spell against Palmeiras, despite the loss. "We did well against Inter Miami in the first half, but they dominated the second," he said. "Against Palmeiras, we were the better team for long periods of the game." "I am happy with my players' performance, and we will work hard to beat FC Porto." The former Orlando Pirates coach emphasized that his focus remains on the available players, stating that the team is ready to face the challenges ahead despite several injuries. Ahly will be without star midfielder Emam Ashour, who suffered a fractured collarbone, while winger Taher Mohamed will miss the game due to a muscle injury. Marwan Atteya is also unavailable, serving an automatic suspension. 'All available players are starters," Riveiro said. "That's why we brought 28 players here." 'We've had some bad luck with Ashour's injury, but we're not thinking about the absent players. We will deal with the challenges and are ready to fight." he concluded Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:

Pogba says he is talking to a club about comeback after ban - World
Pogba says he is talking to a club about comeback after ban - World

Al-Ahram Weekly

time3 hours ago

  • Al-Ahram Weekly

Pogba says he is talking to a club about comeback after ban - World

Former France midfielder Paul Pogba, who wants to resume his career after a doping ban, said on French television on Sunday he is "talking" with a club, which sources close to him said was Monaco. Related Paul Pogba free to return to pitch as doping ban ends The 32-year-old also said he had re-established contact with his brother Mathias, sentenced to a year in prison last December for his involvement in a plot to extort 13 million euros ($15 million) from the 2018 World Cup winner. Pogba, who played for Manchester United and Juventus, is hoping to put three chaotic years behind him. Pogba suffered through repeated injuries and patchy form that led to his departure from United in 2022. He returned for a second stint at Juventus, where his problems continued. He failed a drugs test after a game in Italy in August 2023 and was handed a four-year doping ban, which was reduced 18 months on appeal. It ended in March. "It was very, very hard," he said. He said he was "talking" to a club, which multiple sources said was Ligue 1 Monaco. Pogba said he was determined "to get back on the pitch, mentally ready, physically ready, it's just a matter of time". The extortion case involving six men linked to Paul Pogba shocked France because the perpetrators included three childhood friends and his own brother. The five other defendants were found guilty of extortion, kidnapping and detention, as well as participation in a criminal association, and sentenced to up to eight years in prison. All six were also fined. Paul Pogba said he was talking to Mathias who is being allowed to serve his sentence wearing an electronic bracelet rather than behind bars. "We are in contact. We've spoken, among ourselves, with the family," Paul Pogba said. "It's a blood bond. There was a scar, of course. We're moving forward. Only time can give us answers." "All we want is to always be united as a family. That's the most important thing. It's hard. Of course it's very hard, I'm not going to lie. I was hurt. It's not the same as before, but we're in touch," he added. Paul Pogba was held at gunpoint in 2022 by two hooded men who demanded money. He said on Sunday that he was initially willing to pay but "afterwards, I cracked," he said, deciding "to speak out, even if it meant dying" and refusing "to throw away my money like that". He said the ban and the court case had changed him "I learned a lot during this period," Pogba said. "I did a lot of cleaning around myself too. I am also much closer to my family, my children." (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:

FC Porto fullback Moura expects tough test against African champions Ahly
FC Porto fullback Moura expects tough test against African champions Ahly

Al-Ahram Weekly

time5 hours ago

  • Al-Ahram Weekly

FC Porto fullback Moura expects tough test against African champions Ahly

FC Porto left back Francisco Moura expects a challenging encounter against Egyptian giants Ahly, describing them as "the best team in Africa" ahead of their decisive Group Stage clash at the FIFA Club World Cup. Porto and Ahly meet on Tuesday in a must-win match for both sides, who sit third and fourth respectively in Group B with one point each. Group leaders Palmeiras and Inter Miami are tied on four points, meaning qualification for the semi-finals remains mathematically possible for all four teams. 'We expect a very tough game against Ahly,' Moura told FC Porto's official website on Sunday. 'They are a strong side — the best in Africa — so we have to be fully focused.' The Portuguese side opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Palmeiras before suffering a 2-1 defeat to MLS club Inter Miami. 'We're not satisfied with the result against Inter Miami, but we have to put that behind us and concentrate fully on the match against Ahly,' Moura concluded. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store