Al Ahly manager Pitso Mosimane has implored his players to deliver a “medal for the continent” after the African champions were beaten in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final for a second successive year.
The Egyptian giants were defeated 2-0 by 2021 Copa Libertadores winners Palmeiras in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday night. Ahly finished the match with 10 men following defender Ayman Ashraf’s red card nine minutes from time.
While Palmeiras go on to contest Saturday’s final at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium against the winner of Wednesday’s semi-final between Chelsea and Al Hial, Ahly will meet the loser of that match in a fight for bronze. That match is also scheduled for Saturday, at Al Nahyan Stadium.
Contesting the Club World Cup for a seventh time, Ahly lost in the semi-finals last year, when they were beaten 2-0 by eventual title winners Bayern Munich. However, they rebounded in Qatar to defeat Palmeiras on penalties in the third-place play-off.
“We have a medal to play for - it’s not all lost,” Mosimane told the media on Tuesday. “We should try and get a medal for the continent. It will be the same if we win. But we have to try more. We will come again next year and try and do better. It’s the way it is, in football as in life, it’s much the same.”
Mosimane pinpointed Ahly’s slow start against Palmeiras as a key contributor in their downfall, saying his team gave their Brazilian counterparts too much respect early in the game.
The South African said also that tiredness played a factor: Ahly had opened their Club World Cup account three days earlier with the 1-0 win against Mexico’s Monterrey. Meanwhile, as South American champions, Palmeiras entered the tournament at the last four.
“We played a good team, with a good level of quality, very strong and professional,” Mosimane said. “They were stronger, fresher. You could see the difference in terms of intensity.
“The difficult thing is we’re playing now the third match and the yellow cards come into play. But when you play the first game and the second game, the opponent has the advantage in the third. It’s a little bit difficult. But it’s the way the tournament is.”
Mosimane added: “Of course, we hoped to be in a better position that we were last year. But we are in the same position at this stage: the semi-final, coincidentally the same score.
“That really means we have to improve – so we haven’t improved in that sense.”
Al Ahly beat Monterrey - in pictures
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”
Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
