Photo Credit: Al Ahly's official page&nbsp;
In an emotional and action-packed opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium in the U.S., Egyptian giants Al Ahly&mdash;the most decorated and consistent participant in the tournament&mdash;faced off against Inter Miami, making their debut under the leadership of football icon Lionel Messi. The clash ended in a dramatic 0&ndash;0 draw.
Emam Ashour&rsquo;s Heartbreaking Injury
Just 14 minutes into the game, Al Ahly fans were devastated as star forward Emam Ashour went down with an injury. Known for finishing as the top scorer in the Egyptian Premier League (2024&ndash;25) with 13 goals, Ashour was expected to be a major threat to Inter Miami&rsquo;s defense.
According to Al Ahly&rsquo;s team doctor, Ahmed Gaballah, initial medical scans confirmed that Ashour suffered a clavicle (collarbone) fracture, which will require surgical intervention. He left the pitch in tears and was replaced by Ahmed El Sayed "Zizo", officially ruling him out of the tournament.
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El Shenawy Makes History with Fifth Clean Sheet
Mohamed El Shenawy, Al Ahly&rsquo;s captain and goalkeeper, delivered a performance for the history books. He denied Messi on multiple occasions, including a dangerous free kick and a last-minute strike, as well as a powerful header by Faf&agrave; Picault.
With this match, El Shenawy became the goalkeeper with the cleanest sheets in FIFA Club World Cup history: 5 clean sheets in 11 matches&mdash;Mohamed El Shenawy.&nbsp;
Wessam Abou Ali: Al Ahly&rsquo;s Secret Weapon
One of the night&rsquo;s standout performers was Wessam Abou Ali, who played a crucial dual role. The forward made a goal-line clearance after Luis Su&aacute;rez almost scored, proving vital in defense. Abou Ali&rsquo;s versatility&mdash;balancing attacking duties with defensive heroics&mdash;earned him applause from fans and pundits alike.
Massive Turnout Despite Ticket Rumors
Contrary to speculation that FIFA would struggle to sell tickets, the match drew a roaring crowd of 60,927 fans, filling Hard Rock Stadium for an unforgettable night of football.
Match Stats Snapshot (via Opta Analyst):
Al Ahly were favorites pre-match, with a 44.7% chance of winning according to the<a href="https://theanalyst.com/articles/al-ahly-vs-inter-miami-prediction-fifa-club-world-cup-2025"> Opta supercomputer</a>.
Possession, shots on goal and duels were evenly matched, reflecting the balance of power between the two teams.
What&rsquo;s Next?
With the Group A opener behind them, both teams now look to recover before their next fixtures: Al Ahly will travel to MetLife Stadium in New York to face Palmeiras (Brazil) on Thursday at 7:00 PM.
&nbsp;If you want to know more about Al Ahly&rsquo;s upcoming matches, check out this article: "<a href="https://nilefm.com/sports/article/12269/infographic-al-ahly-s-road-to-glory-in-the-club-world-cup">Infographic | Al Ahly&rsquo;s Road to Glory in the Club World Cup</a>"

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