Former Egypt and Ahly football star Tarek Selim died on Saturday at the age of 80 after a long battle against illness.

"Ahly mourn club icon Tarek Selim. May he rest in peace," Ahly said in a statement via its official website.

Selim began his football career as a defender within Ahly's youth ranks in the early 1950s and quickly established himself as one of the Reds' key players.

The younger brother of Ahly icon and former club president Saleh Selim, Tarek won seven Egyptian league titles and fives Egypt Cups through his 17-year career with the Cairo giants.

He also played with Egyptian national team starting in 1956, guiding the Pharaohs to win the 1959 Africa Cup of Nations title.

After his retirement in 1965, Selim worked as a pilot and also as Ahly's football director on many occasions.

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