By: William Ezah, New York City, United States of America (USA)
New York, June 17, GNA – The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup commenced over the weekend in the United States of America (USA), with Egyptian giants and African football powerhouse Al Ahly leading the African challenge at the global football festival designed for some of the best clubs around the world.
Ahly, who started the campaign with a goalless draw game against Lionel Messi-inspired Inter Miami, is leading the African challenge alongside their North African brothers Wydad Club of Morocco, Esperance of Tunisia, and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
Ahly qualified for the competition as the runners-up at the continental level, with Wydad as winners of the 2023-24 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League.
Sundowns and Esperance, on the other hand, are the two most highly ranked clubs by the CAF.
The African quartet would be going into the 25-year-old competition with high expectations, taking into consideration the performance of Africa at the last FIFA World Cup and the pedigree of the four participants, especially Ahly.
The most successful club from the continent would lead the challenge at the competition and will seek to go beyond the semi-finals stage and eventually win the competition.
Aside from being the most successful on the continent, Ahly is also the most successful of the continent at the FIFA Club World Cup since its inception in 2000 and their debut appearance in 2005.
Ahly has participated nine times, with their best performance in 2006, 2020, 2021, and 2023, where they placed third on all occasions.
With this, the data and statistics provide enough grounds to make a bold prediction that they have what it takes to advance to the finals this time and possibly win, despite possible opposition from five-time Club World Cup champions Real Madrid.
However, one cannot underplay the strength of Wydad of Morocco, the current African champions. Morocco’s strong performance at the last FIFA World Cup and their gradual growth as a powerful football nation both on the continent and on the global stage will be some of the reasons why pundits will be placing a premium on them.
The three-time CAF Champions League winners would be making their maiden appearance in the competition—a moment of pride for them, which Club President Ait Menna believes will be a perfect moment for them to show how their supporters love them.
“Wydad’s supporters will separate them from the field, too. They’re going to discover one of the best crowds in the world—and many of the titles Wydad have won have been thanks to their fans.”
“Wydad have always been a pioneer, and it is a continuation of that history to see Wydad become the country’s first representatives in this competition. It’s a tremendous honor for us, and it’s still a big challenge to represent the country, especially after the national team’s achievements,” said Ait Menna.
Espérance, the most successful club in Tunisia, with a record of four CAF Champions League trophies, a number of continental cups, and three appearances at the FIFA Club World Cups in 2011, 2018, and 2019, with their best record as fifth place, also holds a strong card to make progress at the competition.
South African giants Sundowns would be making their second appearance at the competition, after the maiden one in 2016, which ended without any significant impact.
The South African team, owned by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, comes into the competition as former African Champions in 2016, in addition to their strong ranking by CAF.
It is imperative to note that the profile of the continental representatives gives enough conviction that the continent is well represented and stands the chance to make the desired impact, but Al Ahly remains the best hope for the continent.
GNA
Edited by William Ezah