By Sama Marwan,
Ahmed Sayed “Zizo”, Al Ahly’s new signing, expressed his immense happiness at wearing the club’s red jersey, affirming that his decision to join was driven by a desire to build a new legacy and fanbase in his football career—despite receiving lucrative offers from Gulf clubs.
In a video statement shared by Al Ahly’s official platforms, Zizo said:
“I’m very happy to join Al Ahly and extremely excited to start this new experience. I felt something special the first time I wore the red jersey, and I hope it will be a strong beginning where I fulfill the fans’ expectations.”
Zizo also revealed the origin of his nickname:
“I inherited the name ‘Zizo’ from my father, who was nicknamed after Captain Abdelaziz Abdelshafy—one of Al Ahly’s legends.”
The player added:
“The negotiations were handled by my father and Nader Shawky. I didn’t feel any pressure, just pure excitement. I prefer to focus on my work and not get distracted by outside noise.”
As for why he chose Al Ahly despite more lucrative offers, he explained:
“I received huge financial offers from Gulf clubs, but the idea of creating your own legacy and fanbase at a club the size of Al Ahly, and competing for titles domestically and internationally, made Al Ahly the perfect choice for me.”
Zizo highlighted his father’s support, saying:
“My father always wants the best for me and pushes me to shine in places that deserve me. Al Ahly fans have always shown love for me even before I joined, and that makes me truly happy.”
Regarding the reaction of the team, he said:
“All the players congratulated me on the move. I’ve had good relationships with many of them even before arriving. There isn’t one specific close friend—everyone is close.”
Zizo spoke about his upcoming participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, stating:
“I’m very proud to be part of a tournament of this magnitude for the first time. It doesn’t matter who we play—I just want to start my journey with Al Ahly strongly. I’ve always sought opportunities to appear in major competitions, and Al Ahly has given me this dream.”
He confirmed his readiness alongside his teammates:
“The entire squad is preparing well, and the new coach is starting to understand everyone’s abilities. We hope to deliver a performance worthy of Al Ahly’s name and its fans—especially with the new signings and the experience within the squad.”
Zizo praised the internal competition within the team, adding:
“Having multiple players in the same position is healthy and helps us win titles. Internal competition motivates everyone to perform their best.”
When asked about his most memorable moment of Al Ahly in the Club World Cup, he said:
“The moment I remember most is Captain Mohamed Aboutrika’s goal against Club América.”
Zizo concluded his remarks with a message to the Al Ahly fans:
“I’m happy and proud to join Al Ahly. I promise to give everything I have to live up to your expectations. We hope to bring you joy with our performances on the field.”
