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Al Ahly coach Gignac on the spot as Mexico’s praises Qatar’s FIFA CWC UANL Tigres make history Agencies organization Doha

Andre-Pierre Gignac was Tigres UANL’s hero once again as the Mexicans stunned Brazil’s winners Palmeiras 1-0 to be- come the first Concacaf team to reach a FIFA Club World Al Ahly manager Cup™ final at the Ahmad Bin Pitso Mosimane. Ali Stadium on Sunday. The 35-year-old veteran Tribune News Network Gignac scored the only goal of Doha the semi-final in the 54th min- ute after defeder Luan com- Al Ahly SC manager Pitso mitted a foul in the box. Mosimane applauded Qa- He claimed his third goal tar’s commitment to safely of the tournament with his hosting the FIFA Club World right footed shot finding the Cup™ during a press confer- bottom left corner. ence on Sunday. The former French inter- Mosimane and his play- national Gignac, who has led ers have spent five weeks in Tigres to four Liga MX titles, a medical bubble in order is the club’s all-time leading to participate in the tourna- scorer has now scored 147 ment, which got underway goals for the Mexicans. on Thursday night. ’s side Qatar has implemented were good value for their sur- strict health and safety pro- prise win and will now face off tocols in order to host the for the title against either FC tournament safely during Bayern München or Al Ahly the COVID-19 pandemic. SC on Thursday. Al Ahly will face Bayern Palmeiras went into the Munich in the semi-finals of game as favourites but strug- the tournament on Monday gled throughout, and were in- after their 1-0 win over Al debted to goalkeeper Wever- Duhail SC – the host country ton for keeping the score blank representatives – at Educa- in the first half. tion City Stadium. Three times the Verdão Mosimane said, “We No1 displayed excellent re- Mexico’s UANL Tigres players celebrate defeating Brazil’s Palmeiras 1-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Sunday.( AFP) haven’t faced any issues dur- flexes to deny Tigres, with the ing the past five weeks. We pick of his saves a superb, in- are trying our best to look stinctive stop to tip wide from after our health – and the Gignac’s curling, goal-bound health of our opponents. We right-foot shot. comply with these rules to The game was developing ensure the safety of every- into something of a personal one and in order to continue duel between Gignac and playing football.” Weverton, in fact, and this Mosimane went on to continued in the second half praise Qatar’s readiness to when Tigres were awarded a host the FIFA World Cup™ penalty eight minutes after in under two years’ time. the restart. “The airport, transportation, On this occasion, and while hotels, stadiums and train- he guessed right, the Palmei- ing pitches are all fantastic ras keeper could not prevent – and these are the most im- the Frenchman’s powerfully- Mexico’s UANL Tigres supporters cheer during the FIFA CWC semi-final at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.( AFP) portant components when it struck spot-kick finding the comes to hosting a successful bottom-left corner. Mexico’s UANL Tigres forward Andre-Pierre Gignac (left) consoles tunities, and Tigres were left in 2013. Bayern won the Ger- World Cup. From a technical Palmeiras had, of course, Palmeiras’ goalkeeper Weverton following their FIFA Club World Cup to celebrate a famous – and ’s side are look- man double last season and point of view, everything is struck extremely late in the semi-final at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Sunday.( AFP) deserved – semi-final victory. ing to claim their sixth 2020 Champions League and at compliant here. I’d give it a Copa Libertadores final to earn European sides have won title at tournament delayed the start of this season won green tick,” he said. their place at the global show- iser as the clock ticked down. ing produced precious little the last seven Club World from December amid the coro- both the German and Euro- piece, and pressed for an equal- But their huffing and puff- in the way of genuine oppor- Cups, a run started by Bayern navirus pandemic. pean Super Cups. Focused Bayern Munich ready for Al Ahly Tribune News Network Al Ahly are aware of the fact Doha that they face a unique chal- lenge, as they face the Bayern An airport delay when Bayern who have a group of the world’s Munich took off for Doha to most prominent players in re- play in the FIFA Club World cent years. Cup Qatar 2020 has been much The African champions talked about on the German would be seeking to gain confi- team’s travel, but coach Hansi 9pm: dence from their 1-0 win over Al Flick put that aside saying his Al Ahly vs Bayern Duhail in the quarter-finals. team, favourites for the title, Munich “It’s a momentous game for was well focused on the semi- (At Ahmad Bin Ali us. It’s against the European final against Egypt’s Al Ahly to Stadium) Champions League winners. Al be played at the Ahmad Bin Ahly will represent the whole of Ali Stadium on Monday. Africa tomorrow and we want to “We have to put aside put on a good game,” said cap- what happened during tain and goalkeeper Mohamed the journey,” Flick told a El Shenawy. news conference on Sun- The Egyptians qualified for day. the Club World Cup by winning European champions the African Champions League. Bayern have arrived aim- Their win against Al Duhail was ing for a potential sixth tro- their 32nd competitive game in phy in succession following a row without defeat. last year’s treble and both “They’re a team who try to domestic and European play and are very versatile in at- Super Cups to start this tack. They’re also very attacking season. with their full-backs,” Flick ex- “Our aim is to win plained of the opponents. this competition. We “We know they’re a know that it’s considered Bayern Munich players during a practice session in Doha on Sunday ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 semi-final against Egypt’s Al Ahly.(Pic: FC Bayern Munich) strong team, they’re the as something of a burden, but FC Bayern of Egypt,” a re- we are motivated and we want so we’re just taking it one step Rummenigge recently said the opportunity to take part in see what comes next,” he added. reached the golden square in spectful Kimmich added of to cap off an outstanding year at a time in training,” the coach that the players’ council asked and win this tournament,” de- Despite Al Ahly’s participa- only two previous times, win- Africa’s treble winners. with a sixth title,” Flick said. added. him to get involved to ensure fender Joshua Kimmich said. tion in the tournament for the ning in 2006 third place and in A super clash is in the offing “We had to win the Cham- Despite the busy schedule, the Club World Cup would go “This is a chance to write sixth time, the match will be 2012 fourth after losing to Bra- and many socially-distanced pions League to get here. We with midweek and weekend ahead. history. We are really motivated the team’s first meeting with zilian Internacional and Corin- fans are expected to their seats have a match every three days games, Bayern chief Karl-Heinz “We are really happy to have for our semi-final and then we’ll the European champions. They thians respectively. at the stadium in Al Rayyan.