Aliyu Zubairu Reacts To Victory Over Al Ahly

Aliyu Zubairu Reacts To Victory Over Al Ahly

Sampson Adedeji

Former Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu has expressed satisfaction after guiding Egyptian second division side Telecommunications to a famous 2-1 comeback victory over African giants Al Ahly, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Telecommunications came from a goal down to secure the win, recording one of the most notable results in the club’s recent history against the highly rated opponents.

Reacting after the match, Zubairu acknowledged the difficulty of facing Al Ahly, describing the encounter as a tactical battle that required patience and discipline from his players.

“It was never an easy match, especially against a team of Al Ahly’s caliber,” Zubairu said. 

“Our team played very cautiously and waited for the right moment to attack. We wanted to attack Al Ahly, but at the right time, because they are a very high-caliber, big club.”

The Nigerian coach revealed that his side capitalised on a shift in momentum after drawing level, which encouraged them to push for the winning goal.

“When we managed to get back into the game and equalise, and realised that Al Ahly’s performance had dropped, we attacked,” he added.

Zubairu also praised his players’ resilience after being reduced to 10 men in the closing stages of the match, noting that game management was crucial to seeing out the victory.

“I think it was difficult to play with 10 men against Al Ahly. The truth is, things were tough, and I don’t want to exaggerate, but we managed the situation and we were able to win,” he said.

Despite the historic result, the former Flying Eagles handler insisted his focus remains firmly on the league campaign.

“We won’t dwell too much on the celebrations; tomorrow is a rest day, and then we start again".

"The most important thing is the league because we want to win it,” Zubairu concluded.