Ahmed Shobier criticised Al Ahly’s players after they were held to a 3-3 draw by Al Qanah in the Egyptian Premier League on Wednesday.
Al Ahly were trailing 3-2 until the third minute of added time, when Moroccan defender Achraf Dari scored to rescue a point. The result prompted anger among Al Ahly supporters and officials, who were unhappy with the team’s display.
Speaking on the radio, Shobier said Al Ahly should have controlled the match at Cairo International Stadium rather than retreating deep after taking the lead.
“Al Ahly are playing Al Qanah at Cairo Stadium. What would normally happen? Al Ahly would press from the edge of the penalty area,” he said.
“But what is not normal is for them to drop back to a third of their pitch or halfway inside their own half. Is Al Ahly a small team to defend after scoring a goal? It is very strange.
“When the ball comes back from the defence or the goalkeeper, there is no one to clear it away. That is the normal thing to do, but no – everyone was just standing and looking at each other.”
The former Al Ahly goalkeeper said he had been shocked by the team’s lack of intensity and concentration.
“Honestly, I was watching the Al Ahly and Al Qanah match in a state of amazement,” Shobier said. “Al Ahly had no pressure, no spirit, no determination to win the ball back and not even enough focus when passing.
“I congratulate Al Qanah for what they produced.”
Shobier also argued that Al Qanah deserved more than a single point from the match, despite Al Ahly creating more attacking opportunities.
“To be fair, Al Qanah lost two points rather than gaining one,” he said. “Yes, Al Ahly attacked more and did everything else, but they scored the equaliser in the final two minutes.
“Al Qanah were the better side because they had been behind, came back once, came back again and then went 3-2 ahead.”
He reserved particular criticism for Al Qanah’s third goal, which followed a long kick from goalkeeper Mohamed Shaaban.
“The third goal for Al Qanah was beyond bizarre,” Shobier said. “The goalkeeper, Mohamed Shaaban, played the ball long and there was only one Al Qanah player there, Mohamed Hamdy Zaky.
“He went for the ball among the defenders – one player against three. You are supposed to cover the situation so he cannot run through one-on-one, but instead you continue and then put the ball into your own goal. What is that? Honestly, it is basic football that was missing.”
