Riveiro's Men Pay the Price for Defensive Chaos and Wasted Chances

Al Ahly's 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign came to a devastating end when they placed last in Group A behind FC Porto, Palmeiras and Inter Miami.

A Bitter Exit for Africa’s Giants

Despite high expectations and major summer reinforcements, the Egyptian champions failed to deliver. Al Ahly opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Inter Miami, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Palmeiras. In their final group game, a 4-4 thriller with Porto wasn’t enough to salvage their hopes.

Expert View: “Focus was lost”

Speaking to Foot Africa, Egyptian journalist Ahmed Ghonem blamed the early exit on poor game management and media pressure.

"They played good football, especially against Porto, but defensive naivety cost them dearly. You can’t make basic errors against top sides. Riveiro didn’t have time to instill his tactics, and the media hype clearly affected the players’ focus," Ghonem explained.

Al Ahly's withdrawal from the Club World Cup's huge setback because they were hoped to make it to the knockout stages and take advantage of the fantastic opportunity to compete internationally.

Rather, the African heavyweights return home with just two points and no victories, a disappointing outcome that raises a lot of concerns for the upcoming campaign.