Pitso Mosimane insisted he retains faith in Mohamed El-Shenawy despite the goalkeeper’s mistake costing Al Ahly victory in Thursday’s 2-2 draw at home to Pyramids.
El-Shenawy was about to clear a routine backpass from his defence in the closing stages of the match when a Pyramids man stole the ball and scored to secure the visitors’ point.
The draw appeared a damaging result ahead of a run of league fixtures against Smouha, Al Mokawloon, Misr Lel Makassa, National Bank, El Entag El Habry and Aswan.
El-Shenawy had produced sunning saves in the match but came under heavy criticism from the fans for conceding the goal that gifted ten-man Pyramids with a point.
However, Mosimane has no desire to turn to the second-choice goalkeeper and will stick with his first choice.
“I got Egypt’s number one goalkeeper. Tonight you blame Shenawy? No, I stay with my goalkeeper. I stay loyal to El Shenawy who saved us many times. El Shenawy is number one,” the Al Ahly coach told reporters in a post-match press conference.
“Last week, El-Shennawy made a great save against Esperance…but today against Pyramids it was not the case, and these things happen.”
Al Ahly dominated the match but it was Pyramids who opened the scoring though Ibrahim Adel opened in the 47th minute, but substitute winger Hussein El-Shahat levelled the score three minutes later.
Mahmoud ‘Kahraba’ Abdel-Moneim added the second for Ahly nine minutes from time, while Eric Traore scored the equalizer in stoppage time.
Experienced defender Ali Maaloul wasted a penalty two minutes after the hour mark, while VAR ruled out Asha’s goal for offside in the first stanza.
“We played 10 against 11 against Esperance, but tonight we could not control the game. You have to accept and move on. Football gives you lessons and this happens to big teams,” Mosimane adde.
“We were very unlucky in two moments tonight. Maaloul missed a penalty and our captain made a big mistake. Unlike last week, as I saw them shined.”
Ahly are now third on the league table with 42 points, 19 behind leaders Zamalek, with the defending champions having seven matches in hand.
