Egypt's Al Ahly head coach Mohamed Yousef (R) trains with his players during a practice session in preparation for the FIFA Club World Cup in Agadir, December 10, 2013 (Photo: Reuters)
Ahly manager Mohamed Youssef wants more than just a solid performance from his side at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco – he wants a display that will honour Egypt.
Speaking with the club's official website, Youssef lamented the "hard circumstances" that Egyptian football has faced lately: two successive Premier Leagues were cancelled due to political upheaval and a general lack of "friendly" games.
A lack of competition has meant Egyptian players are not at their best, said Youssef, who, at 43-years-old, is the club's youngest-ever manager.
He hopes to reverse things in Morocco.
"We will be aiming to draw a good image for Egyptian football," he said. "It is difficult to promise anything. But Ahly's goal is always winning. This is our way of thinking."
Ahly will represent Africa in the FIFA Club World Cup for the fifth time, thanks last month's African Champions League title, the club's eighth, from a win over South Africa's Orlando Pirates.
Going into the cup in Morocco, only one player will miss action, Sayed Moawad, who is out with a muscle injury, Youssef said.
Substituting for Mowad will be Ahmed Shedid Kwennawi and Sabri Rahil in the left wing position.
African champions Ahly will start their World Club Cup campaign on 14 December against Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande of China. The winner will face European champions Bayern Munich in the semifinals on 17 December.
Ahly's best showing has been a third place finish in 2006 in Japan.
"The Chinese team is very powerful," Youssef said. "We've watched them in their league and the Asia Champions League. They have three tough players from Argentine and Brazil."
Egypt's domestic league has been confirmed to start 26 December. But there is still no certainty about how smoothly the season will go. League play was halted in February 2012 after clashes at a Port Said stadium left 72 Ahly fans dead.
A year and a half later, yet another season was cancelled due to security concerns after ouster of president Mohamed Morsi and ensuing mass protests.
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