Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has admitted to feeling the pressure during his team’s Egyptian Cup win over ENPPI on Saturday.
The Red Eagles registered a 1-0 win at the Alexandria Stadium to sail to the Egyptian Cup quarter-final, with the lone goal coming on the 74th-minute courtesy of substitute Salah Mohsen.
Reports before the match suggested that the South African coach could be dismissed if Ahly exited Egypt’s secondary club competition.
Mosimane had came under criticism from the fans and a section of the Al Ahly top brass following Tuesday’s stunning shootout loss to unfancied Talae El-Geish in the Egyptian Super Cup.
“It was the same like the Super Cup game against Tala’ae El Gaish. The only difference was that we scored a goal tonight. The opponent did not come to us, We dominated and made chances. The difference tonight is that out of four chances, we scored a goal. Last week in the more important game against El Gaish, we missed a lot,” Mosimane told the club website.
“You have to understand that the players feel the pressure, they feel the stress. We also feel the pressure and the stress. We are human beings, but we have to do the job.
“We have a lot of new players, and also many players who came back from loan. You can see they are not really adapted to the way we play and the way we press. Also, they are not fully fit and cannot finish the matches.
“I am happy with Hamdy (Ahmed Abdelkader). Luis is gaining confidence. I know him, and once he gets the confidence, he will add more value to the team.
“We are professionals. We have to take the pressure and stress. We have to win and then everything becomes good.
“The players are not resting. I have answered this question before and I have told you that it is going to affect the national team. Hussein El Shahat and Taher are out. Is this the same Sherif and Afsha that we know? No, they are not the same, because the load is too heavy. We need a football program. If there is no off-season, we will struggle.”
Ahly will meet Pyramids FC in the last eight after the latter beat Alexandria-based club Smouha 3-1 on Friday.
Mosimane has won two Champions League titles, CAF Super Cup, Egyptian Cup and Egyptian Super Cup since he joined the club in October 2020.
