Al Ahly midfielder Ahmed Nabil “Koka” has launched a scathing attack on the match officials following his team’s 2-2 draw with Zamalek in the Egyptian Premier League, accusing them of “stealing” the match from the Red Devils.
The highly anticipated Cairo derby ended in a stalemate at Cairo International Stadium on Friday, May 17, 2024. The result leaves Al Ahly in second place in the table, trailing their arch-rivals Zamalek by a single point, though Al Ahly have two games in hand.
Speaking to “On Time Sports” after the final whistle, Koka did not hold back his frustration. “The match was stolen from Al Ahly,” he stated bluntly. “The referee’s decisions were completely one-sided. There was a clear penalty for us that was not given, and many fouls against our players were ignored.”
The midfielder revealed a shocking claim about the match referee, Mohamed Adel. “At the end of the game, the referee himself came to us and said, ‘Forget about the league. You have the African Champions League to focus on,'” Koka alleged. “How can an official say such a thing? This is unacceptable.”
Koka emphasized that his team performed well enough to win the crucial encounter. “We controlled large parts of the game and created the clearer chances. We should have taken all three points today, but we were prevented from doing so by the officiating,” he added.
The draw intensifies the title race with the season approaching its climax. Al Ahly will now turn their attention to the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final, where they hold a 1-0 aggregate lead over Esperance de Tunis. The return leg is scheduled for Friday, May 24, 2024, in Rades.
