Ahmed Shobier criticised Al Ahly’s players after they were held to a 3-3 draw by El Qanah in the Egyptian Premier League on Wednesday.
Al Ahly were trailing 3-2 until the third minute of added time, when Morocco international Achraf Dari scored to rescue a point for the Cairo club.
The result triggered anger among Al Ahly supporters and officials, with the team’s performance widely criticised after they struggled to impose themselves on the match.
Speaking on radio, former Al Ahly goalkeeper Shobier questioned the team’s approach at Cairo International Stadium.
“Al Ahly were playing El Qanah at Cairo Stadium. What would normally happen? Al Ahly would push forward from the edge of the penalty area,” he said.
“But what is not normal is for them to retreat to the edge of their own half or even deeper. Is Al Ahly a small team that has to defend after scoring a goal? It is very strange.
“When the ball came back from the defence or the goalkeeper, there was nobody to clear it and move forward. No, there was nothing – everyone was just standing and looking at each other.”
Shobier said he watched the match in disbelief and praised El Qanah for their display.
“I swear, I watched Al Ahly against El Qanah and I was stunned,” he said. “Al Ahly had no pressure, no spirit, no determination to win the ball back and not even enough concentration when passing.
“I salute El Qanah for what they produced.”
Shobier also argued that El Qanah had been the better side in the circumstances, despite Al Ahly having more attacking possession and eventually finding an equaliser.
“To be fair, El Qanah lost two points rather than gaining one,” he said. “Yes, Al Ahly attacked more and did everything else, but you scored the equaliser in the final two minutes.
“El Qanah were the better team because they fell behind, recovered once and then again, before taking a 3-2 lead.”
The former goalkeeper reserved particular criticism for El Qanah’s third goal, which he described as extraordinary defending by Al Ahly.
“Mohamed Shaaban played a long ball from goal, and there was only one El Qanah player, Mohamed Hamdy Zaky, running into the middle of the defenders,” Shobier said.
“One player was surrounded by three defenders. You are supposed to secure the situation so he cannot run through one-on-one. Instead, you keep going and then put the ball into your own net.
“What is that? Honestly, it is basic football that was simply not there.”
