Al Ain players helped me overcome the shock of the “Africa Cup”

The striker of the Moroccan Al Ain international team, Sufyan Rahimi, who led Al-Zaeem to the semi-finals of the President’s Cup, defeating Dibba 3-0, yesterday, said that his teammates helped him overcome the shock of losing the final of the African Cup of Nations, which he had lost with the “Atlas Lions” to Senegal.

Rahimi, who won the best player award in the Al Ain and Dibba match, after scoring two goals out of three, said in press statements: “I am happy to return to scoring, and I thank my fellow players for helping me after returning from the national team. “Things were difficult, and it was a shock that everyone knew.”

He added: “I’ve overcome it now, and that’s how football is.” My focus now is with the Al Ain team, and I will work to help them by giving my best so that I can return to the national team in the upcoming matches.”

Regarding Al-Zaeem’s qualification to the semi-finals, after having reached the final of the Professional League Cup and also occupying second place in the league table, Rahimi said: “So far we have not achieved anything. It is true that we have qualified for the semi-finals. We will be happy today, and from tomorrow we will start focusing on the next match.”

He continued: “Al Ain is currently competing in all tournaments. We hope to continue in this manner. I thank my colleagues, the technical and administrative staff, and the fans for their support, and we hope to make them happy at the end of the season.”

Rahimi stressed his desire to make up for the team’s long absence in the previous period, and said: “It is important for me to continue my glow. I missed many matches in the first round, and I am currently working to make up for that absence.”

Commenting on his celebration after the second goal, after he went to celebrate with his father, Sufyan said: “My father is currently sick, and he came to the stadium to support me. His presence gives me great motivation. I hope that my brother Hussein and I will be happy by winning the title of this competition.”

On the other hand, Dibba team player, Abdullah Al-Dhanhani, regretted their exit from the competition, and said that they performed wonderfully in the first half, but they did not capitalize on the opportunities they got, denying that the team’s situation in the league championship, in which it is struggling to survive, was a reason for the lack of focus.

The Al Ain team had qualified for the semi-finals of the competition, after ending the Dibba adventure with a clean score, in the match that brought the two teams together yesterday at Rashid Stadium in Dubai, in a match that witnessed the presence of about 1,000 spectators.

Moroccan star Sofiane Rahimi was able to open the scoring in the 53rd minute, and substitute Laba Kodjo increased Al Ain’s lead by scoring the second goal (76), before Rahimi returned again to conclude the hat-trick (79).