After losing to European champions, Bayern Munich in the semifinal, African club champions, Al Ahly defeated South American champions, Palmeiras on penalty on Thursday to emerge third place winners at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Ahly, still basking in the euphoria of a record ninth continental triumph went to Qatar with high hopes but only a few will blame them for losing to the best football club in the world at the moment.
They however set up a third-place clash against Palmeiras with the game ending goal-less after 120 minutes. Nigerian attacker, Junior Ajayi scored the deciding penalty of the encounter.
Ahly coach, Pitso Mosimane also created a record as just the second man to lead Ahly to a podium finish, with the first coming fifteen years ago.
The African champions, Ahly have been hailed round the continent for their achievement, becoming Africa’s first team to finish on the podium since Congolese giants, TP Mazembe finished in second place in 2011.
By Ahly’s third-place finish, Mosimane became the first South African to win a Club World Cup medal. Al Ahly also became the African side with the highest number of victories in the history of the competition.
Al Ahly have also played the joint-highest games (15) in the history of the Club World Cup.
They were awarded a cash prize of $2.5m for their feat.
Next stop for the Egyptian and African champions is the continuation of their continental title defense against El Merreikh of Sudan.