Mohamed Abdelwahab
Encyclopedia
Mohamed Abdelwahab was an Egypt
ian footballer. He played in the defensive left back position. He was an important part of the Egyptian squad that went on to win the 2006 African Cup of Nations
. He died during training with his club El Ahly on 31 August 2006.
and whilst there caught the eye of then national youth team coach Hassan Shehata
, who included him in his squad. Abdelwahab went on to be part of the Egyptian youth team that won the 2003 African Cup of Nations in Mali
.
His excellent form in the World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates
encouraged UAE side Al-Zafra to sign him on a four-year-contract. However, Abdelwahab did not make any appearances at Al-Zafra and spent his first year on-loan to ENPPI
. Whilst there, he was called up to the Egyptian national team by Italian
coach Marco Tardelli. Abdelwahab scored on his debut in the national team's opening 2006 World Cup qualifier
against Sudan
.
He then joined El Ahly on a two-year loan but failed to secure a starting place in his first season with the club since coach Manuel José
depended mainly on Angolan international Gilberto. Abdelwahab's break came in the 2005 African Champions League final against Etoile Sahel of Tunisia
when Gilberto left the pitch injured after ten minutes. Abdelwahab was brought on and went on to set up Osama Hosny
for El-Ahly's second goal in the 3-0 win that saw the club crowned African champions.
Abdelwahab became a pivotal member of Hassan Shehata
's national squad and helped Egypt win the 2006 African Cup of Nations
on home soil by scoring the second penalty in the penalty shootout against Côte d'Ivoire
. His steady performances helped Al Ahly secure their second consecutive local title, the Egyptian Cup
and CAF Super Cup
in the same season.
Ahly then moved to land Abdelwahab on a permanent basis from Al-Zafra, who turned down the offer. However, a clause in the player's contract with the UAE side allowed him to annul it and sign for Ahly, triggering a tug-of-war between Ahly and Al-Zafra and leaving the player inactive for the entire summer, causing him to lose his place in the national side. FIFA
had still not determined the outcome of the disagreement when he died on August 31, 2006.
, Cairo
, but the 23-year-old winger died before he could be revived. According to Egyptian doctors, the cause of Abdelwhab's death was a heart defect.
National coach Hassan Shehata
and the players traveled to Abdelwahab's hometown, Faiyum, to attend the funeral proceedings. His #3 jersey was retired.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian footballer. He played in the defensive left back position. He was an important part of the Egyptian squad that went on to win the 2006 African Cup of Nations
African Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
. He died during training with his club El Ahly on 31 August 2006.
Early life and career
Abdelwahab was born in the rural town of Faiyum. He began his professional career with Aluminium Nag HammâdiAluminium Nag Hammâdi
Aluminium is an Egyptian football club based in Nag Hammâdi.The club returned to the Egyptian Premier League at the beginning of the 2007–08 season, following a long absence....
and whilst there caught the eye of then national youth team coach Hassan Shehata
Hassan Shehata
Hassan Shehata is an Egyptian football coach and former player, currently the head coach of the Zamalek SC.He was the head coach Egyptian national team from 2004 to 2011...
, who included him in his squad. Abdelwahab went on to be part of the Egyptian youth team that won the 2003 African Cup of Nations in Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
.
His excellent form in the World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
encouraged UAE side Al-Zafra to sign him on a four-year-contract. However, Abdelwahab did not make any appearances at Al-Zafra and spent his first year on-loan to ENPPI
ENPPI
ENPPI Club is originally an Egyptian Oil and Gas Company established in 1978 and Enppi club was then formed in 1980...
. Whilst there, he was called up to the Egyptian national team by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
coach Marco Tardelli. Abdelwahab scored on his debut in the national team's opening 2006 World Cup qualifier
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for Africa. 51 teams took part , competing for 5 World Cup places.The qualification was composed of two Rounds...
against Sudan
Sudan national football team
The Sudan national football team represents Sudan in association football and is controlled by the Sudan Football Association, the governing body for football in Sudan. Sudan's home ground is Al Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman and their head coach is Mohammed Abdullah Mazda...
.
He then joined El Ahly on a two-year loan but failed to secure a starting place in his first season with the club since coach Manuel José
Manuel José
Manuel José de Jesus Silva, ComM, known simply as Manuel José , is a Portuguese football manager, who currently manages Al-Ahly. Some of the teams he has coached include Vitória de Guimarães, Sporting CP, Sporting de Braga, Boavista, Benfica, Al-Ahly, Belenenses, Angola, amongst others, being the...
depended mainly on Angolan international Gilberto. Abdelwahab's break came in the 2005 African Champions League final against Etoile Sahel of Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
when Gilberto left the pitch injured after ten minutes. Abdelwahab was brought on and went on to set up Osama Hosny
Osama Hosny
Osama Hosny is an Egyptian footballer. He plays the forward position for Egypt's African Super Cup Championship club El-Ahly...
for El-Ahly's second goal in the 3-0 win that saw the club crowned African champions.
Abdelwahab became a pivotal member of Hassan Shehata
Hassan Shehata
Hassan Shehata is an Egyptian football coach and former player, currently the head coach of the Zamalek SC.He was the head coach Egyptian national team from 2004 to 2011...
's national squad and helped Egypt win the 2006 African Cup of Nations
2006 African Cup of Nations
-Group B:---------------------Group C:---------------------Group D:---------------------Knockout stage:-Quarter-finals:-------------Semi-finals:-----Third-place play-off:-Final:-Scorers:...
on home soil by scoring the second penalty in the penalty shootout against Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
. His steady performances helped Al Ahly secure their second consecutive local title, the Egyptian Cup
Egyptian Soccer Cup
The Egypt Cup is the main "knockout" football cup competition in Egypt. It was created in 1921, and was not played only between 1968 and 1971 due to the Six-Day War, in 1973–74 due to October War and in 1979–80, 1981–82, 1986–87 and 1993–94....
and CAF Super Cup
CAF Super Cup
The CAF Super Cup is an annual African association football competition contested between the winners of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. The competition was first held in 1993 and is organised by the Confederation of African Football...
in the same season.
Ahly then moved to land Abdelwahab on a permanent basis from Al-Zafra, who turned down the offer. However, a clause in the player's contract with the UAE side allowed him to annul it and sign for Ahly, triggering a tug-of-war between Ahly and Al-Zafra and leaving the player inactive for the entire summer, causing him to lose his place in the national side. FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
had still not determined the outcome of the disagreement when he died on August 31, 2006.
Death
Abdelwahab collapsed during Ahly's morning training session on 31 August 2006. He was rushed to 'Egypt International Hospital' in DokkiDokki
El Dokki is a district of greater Giza, Egypt. Dokki is situated on the Western bank of the Nile, directly across from Downtown Cairo.Many Cairene landmarks are located in Dokki, the German school and the embassies of many countries including Russia, Somalia, France, Chad, the Czech Republic and...
, Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, but the 23-year-old winger died before he could be revived. According to Egyptian doctors, the cause of Abdelwhab's death was a heart defect.
National coach Hassan Shehata
Hassan Shehata
Hassan Shehata is an Egyptian football coach and former player, currently the head coach of the Zamalek SC.He was the head coach Egyptian national team from 2004 to 2011...
and the players traveled to Abdelwahab's hometown, Faiyum, to attend the funeral proceedings. His #3 jersey was retired.