Egypt's Al-Ahly to suspend player over Rabaa sign: sources

CAIRO - Agence France-Presse

Egyptian Al Ahly club player Ahmed Abdul Zaher, appears to make a four-fingered hand signal after scoring a goal, a gesture that is linked with support for ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, during the African Champions League second leg final match between Egyptian Al Ahly club and South Africa's Orlando Pirates, at the Arab Contractors stadium in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. AP Photo

Egyptians Al Ahly decided Nov. 11 to suspend Ahmed Abdul Zaher from next month's FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco after he celebrated a goal in the African Champions League with a four-finger sign, sources said.

The sign, called Rabaa (four) in Arabic, has been associated with the crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya square on August 14.

Hundreds of people were killed in clashes when security forces stormed Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares in the Egyptian capital to disperse sit-ins by Morsi supporters who rejected his ouster by the army in July.

Crowned African champions for eighth time

Egypt's Al Ahly won an eighth African Champions League trophy when they beat Orlando Pirates of South Africa 2-0 in the second leg of the final in Cairo on Sunday.
 
Ahly, who have previously won Africa's foremost club competition in 1982, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, won 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg.
 
'The Red Devils' of Cairo pocketed the cash prize of $1.5 million and will also represent Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco next month.
 
"I'm very happy we won. It was a difficult game and a good test for us," said Al Ahly coach Mohamed Youssef.
 
"Orlando Pirates are a strong side having eliminated Esperance and TP Mazembe on their journey to the final. We were focused on creating chances and capitalizing on the mistakes of our opponents." Pirates coach Roger De Sa admitted the Egyptians had been the better side over the two legs.
 
"Their experienced showed in the game. We knew it was going to be difficult. We lost the tie when the first leg ended 1-1. Nevertheless, we played well and created some chances," he said.
 
"I'm very disappointed because I believed we could have achieved it but I'm very happy though with the way we carried ourselves." Mohamed Aboutrika opened the scoring in the 54th minute when he stabbed home from just outside the six-yard box.
 
Ahmed Abdul Zaher doubled the Ahly lead in the 78th minute when unmarked inside the box he shot past the Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
 
The Egyptian champions were reduced to 10 men six minutes from time when defender Sherif Abdel Fadil was sent off for a foul on Daine Klate.
 
Pirates, champions in 1995, put up a spirited fight but Ahly's second goal seemed to kill them off inside a packed Arab Contractors Stadium in Cairo.
 
The South African champions created several chances, but could not take them.