Turup’s Wake-Up Call: A Win, But Not The Display He Hopes For; Mustafa Claims The Ref Was Biased

Match snapshot

Through Danish coach Turup, Al Ahly's manager expressed satisfaction with the 2-1 victory over Al Ittihad today in the 11th round of the Egyptian Premier League at Cairo Stadium. He thanked the fans for their warm reception in his first domestic match.

He added: The team played well for 60 minutes, but there was a big drop after the second goal, which gave Al Ittihad a chance to come back and score.

He continued: Team performance still needs improvement, and we must work on some players, but the most important thing is to secure wins.

The schedule is brutal three days between matches so there is little time for full training, more time for recovery and one light session before the game. I will use the time to tweak some tactical aspects.

On his influence: This is only my second game; I am trying to impose a controlled approach and to shrink spaces, which was visible in the first 60 minutes of the game.

In football, attacking play can win matches, but a well organized defense wins titles. A team is a unit, not just a goalkeeper and a back line; mistakes affect everyone.

He added: Scoring is tough, but we have players who can make a difference, like Ahmed Mustafa Zizo and Ashraf Ben Sharqi, who executed much of the plan.

He concluded: I have watched many Ahly games and know most players; I am holding individual sessions to understand each player personally, which is very important for the team.

Al Ahly topped the Egyptian Premier League with 21 points after a fifth straight win, staying one point ahead of Ceramica Cleopatra. The game saw two red cards for Ahmed Nabil KoKo and Karim El Dib, highlighting a heated clash. For Ahly, Ben Sharqi and Zizo scored, while Fadi Farid found the net for Al Ittihad.

Turup, stepping into the job, had previously led Ahly to a win over Eagle Nwar, Burundi’s champions, in the CAF competition, marking a busy period ahead.

Tam er Mustafa, the coach of Al Ittihad, congratulated Ahly after the win, saying his side had performed well even without top-ball dominance for long spells. In the post-match press conference he noted a stronger second half for his team and several goal-scoring chances that could have changed the result.

Mustafa also criticized the referee, saying the officiating hurt his team and detailing plans to rebuild in the winter window to meet the club’s needs. He highlighted exposed areas on the left flank, noting that KoKo is not a natural left-back and that opponents exploited that space on the left, leading to a goal on a quick counter by Abu Bakr Liady.

He wrapped up with a reminder that football is a squad sport and that three matches remain before the break, giving time to refine tactics and fix issues.

The coach stressed that the team is a cohesive unit and that improvements will come with time and work, targeting a stronger collective performance ahead of the mid-season window.

The match ended with Ahly asserting their position atop the table, while the visitors left with a justified sense of having faced a well organized and difficult opponent.

Punchline 1: If defense were a weapon, Turup would be the sniper—quiet, precise, and lethal when you least expect it.

Punchline 2: In football as in comedy, timing is everything; Turup’s plan is clear—defense first, then dessert, because nobody leaves hungry after a tight scoreline.