File Photo: Al Ahly Mohamed Sherif. AP
“I apologise to Ahly fans for missing the confirmed goal that could have helped in strengthening the lead over Flamengo,” Sherif wrote on his social media accounts on Sunday.
“I feel for every fan who feels sad. God knows how I feel,” the 27-year-old Egypt international added.
“I promise you all with the best in coming period in all competitions,” he wrote.
Many Ahly fans lambasted Sherif for a dip-form and missing easy score chances and some even called for his departure.
On Saturday, Sherif missed an easy scoring chance in the 74th miute that would have widened a 2-1 lead over the Brazilians who surged back to score three goals and win the game emphatically.
Ahly's loss to Flamengo meant the team wasted the chance to claim their third straight bronze medal and the fourth in eight appearances in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Defender Ali Maaloul missed a penalty in the 58th minute and Khaled Abdel-Fattah earned a red card in the 69th minute - both contributing to Ahly's woes down the stretch.
In five seasons with the team, Sherif has scored 50 goals for Ahly in all competitions and was the Egyptian Premier League (EPL) top scorer two seasons ago.
However, he has struggled to find the net consistently in recent months.
Still, earlier this month, he scored twice in a big win against archrivals Zamalek in the EPL.
Failure in 2 transfer windows
Some Ahly supporters also criticised the team's management for failing to hire a striker in two transfer windows since the arrival of Swiss coach Marcel Koller last September.
“I took the charge of the team in a short time before the final day of the summer transfer window and I did not know the team’s needs,” Koller said one month after his arrival.
“I am not convinced with Ahly’s trio strikers so I am waiting for the January transfer window to sign a new striker,” the Swiss coach said at the time.
However, the winter transfer window in Egypt ended in the last day of last January but team management failed to sign any strikers.
They only signed midfielder Marwan Atteya from Ittihad of Alexandria, Smouha defender Khaled Abdel-Fattah and Tunisian winger Mohamed Dhaoui.
The Red Devils are scheduled to face Al-Hilal of Sudan in the second round of the CAF Champions League group stage on Saturday after finishing their mission in the FIFA Club World Cup.
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