Yasser Ibrahim, Al Ahly defender, spoke about his team’s upcoming match in the Challenger Cup, a key part of the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Al Ahly is set to face Pachuca from Mexico on Saturday, December 14, at Stadium 974 in Qatar.
The match scheduled for 8 PM local time (5 PM GMT) will determine which team advances to the final of the prestigious Intercontinental Cup, the successor competition to the old format of the FIFA Club World Cup where six continental club champions compete in a knockout tournament.
In an interview with and reported by the club's official website, Yasser Ibrahim expressed confidence in Al Ahly's ability to lift the Challenger Cup while emphasizing the strong support from fans in Qatar and the players’ determination to secure the title. He highlighted the team’s ultimate goal of meeting Real Madrid, the European champions, in the tournament's final.
"We started the Intercontinental Club Cup by defeating Al Ain from the UAE 3-0 at Cairo Stadium, where we celebrated the ‘Asia-Africa-Pacific Cup’ with our fans," Ibrahim said. "Now, we must continue striving with full force to win the Challenger Cup title."
The defender underlined Al Ahly's winning mentality, stating that the club always participates in tournaments with the sole aim of claiming the championship. "We prepare well for every match by thoroughly studying our opponents and this is exactly what we’re doing ahead of the Challenger Cup match," he added.
Ibrahim also described the dream of facing Real Madrid in the final as a significant motivator for the players. "It’s a dream for every player to face Real Madrid in the final—a match that will be etched in history for our generation. We’ve already proven our ability by achieving victories and living up to the trust of our officials and fans."
Reflecting on their past encounter with Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup, he remarked, "We played a great game against Real Madrid before, created chances, and even missed some opportunities. This shows that Al Ahly is capable of fulfilling its fans’ aspirations in big matches. However, we’re fully focused on the Challenger Cup and won’t get ahead of ourselves."
Ibrahim concluded by sending a heartfelt message to Al Ahly supporters: "We’re counting on you to be in Qatar. You’ve always been our backbone and support in all circumstances. We promise to give our all to win the Challenger Cup."
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