Multiple CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly, South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance Tunis from Tunisia, and Wydad from Casablanca all fell at the group stage, as the world had hoped at least one of them would make it to the next round. Countries like Brazil have four teams in the round of 16 and as expected several European sides. Al Ahly rocked the bottom in what was seen as an open group A.
After drawing 0-0 to Leo Messi’s Inter Miami on the opening day of the tournament, the Egyptian champions went on to lose 2-0 to Palmeiras at a hot Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, New York.
The final round of matches proved Al Ahly had some gas in them as they scored four against Porto but were also generous enough to let in the same amount. Here, Al Ahly missed four big chances. They would have had a couple on top of the day’s scoreline.
They arrived late to the party as even a win wouldn’t have been enough as they required Inter Miami to lose on the other side. Sundowns began the competition with a 2-0 win over South Korean side Ulsan HD and were far much better in the 4-3 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the second match but a barren draw on Wednesday saw the South African side’s journey come to an end.Wydad Casablanca was knocked out following back-to-back 2-0 and 4-1 defeats to Man City and Juventus respectively while Esperance Tunis’ hopes were dashed by Chelsea in the 3-0 loss in Philadelphia on Tuesday.Even though the results were not what African supporters looked forward to, the four teams were massively supported with Esperance fans silencing Chelsea fans, Wydad fans lighting up Philadelphia, and a sea of red backing Al Ahly in New York.
Alasdair Howorth with Eric Njiru at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025/ERIC NJIRU
Some matches kicking off at 3 pm local teams have had to endure 37-degree Celsius conditions as Howorth maintains it played a part in affecting how teams play, especially Al Ahly. “I don’t love how Europeans are always complaining about the weather mainly because Al Ahly is a better example. People expect Al Ahly to be used to p[playing in the hot weather but in the Egyptian premier league, Egyptian Cup and to a lesser extent in the CAF Champions League they play at night time. They don’t play during the day ever. The Egyptian Premier League has no daytime games. Al Ahly aren’t used to playing the 3 pm New Jersey sun.“I think it affects things and we’ve seen the night games tend to be better, higher energy and that applies to the African teams. The Sundowns game was brutal Dortmund had to send players to the dressing room for the first half because they couldn’t handle the heat. I think it affects things but they have to adapt, play different styles of football and that’s okay. It has affected the African teams but in no way more than the European sides in my opinion less than them.”After Mamelodi Sundowns’ final group match on Wednesday, head coach Miguel Cardoso said “We have played some of the most beautiful football in this tournament. The story of this game is the goal we didn’t score in the first 20 or 25 minutes. But we kept the intensity and the quality. I’m so proud of my boys. I’m so proud of the club.”The Club World Cup knockout kicks-off on Saturday in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Orlando across the US.
by ERIC NJIRU
