Ahmed Assem

I run an amateur football team. Wannabe football historian.

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

From a random kick-about on Thursdays to this. I could write a book about how co-running AFC Vikings completely changed my life, but I’m more interested in it altering how people perceive football in Egypt, sparking real questions around fandom, representation, and community.

[Ahmed Walid @Walid_4]

Every community has a Grassroots GOAT — the hero that makes it all happen.

For Egyptian side AFC Vikings, it’s @Assem74_. Owner, assistant coach, analyst and player if needed, “a Swiss army knife” as one of the players called him.

Here’s his story ⬇️⬇️

https://t.co/rTQmgAdhT1

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

Mohannad Lashin is a clear example of how Ismaily played a huge role in developing talent from neighbouring governorates, too. Mohannad Lashin being the most recent example. Sharqia-born, opted for the short commute to Ismailia, because why not?

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

Ismailia is truly an outlier as far as football performance is concerned. Consistently over-perform their population/GDP per capita. However, it does make sense when you realise they’re 3rd in Egypt for urban facilities per capita and 2nd for rural.

https://t.co/YoSDgeiqJT

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

القوائم بتاعة أمم إفريقيا ٢٠١٧ وكاس العالم ٢٠١٨ دي كانت غريبة جدًا، يعني الكرة المصرية كانت أصلًا بتمر بفقر في المواهب غير طبيعي، ومع ذلك مكانش في أي محاولات إننا نقاوم ده.

[الكورة مع فايق @ElKoraMa3Fayek]

أسامة نبيه: استبعاد وليد سليمان من قائمة كاس العالم 2018 كان قرار فني من كوبر والخطأ وارد.. ووليد سليمان يعلق: مشكلة كوبر انه كان بيسمع لناس معينة وفي لعيبة راحت كاس العالم ومشاركتش
مجاناً على MBC شاهد
برنامج #فايق_في_المونديال يعرض يومياً الساعة 11 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة على #MBCMASR2
لمتابعة البث المباشر
https://t.co/5VMU1LCg9c

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

@mena_ishere agree, they’ve thoroughly upgraded a few positions + Ouahbi is fundamentally different to Regragui as far as philosophy is concerned so they look quite different.

[Daniel Schteingart @danyscht]

More World Cup players were born in Montevideo than in any other city on Earth. 142, all-time.

The capital of a country that has never had more than 4 million people. Ahead of Mexico City, ahead of Buenos Aires, ahead of every giant.

Uruguay is football's strangest outlier.

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

@PharaohsXI @EgyptianWeenie 100%. It’s such an overriding theme how we just tend to drop points whenever we’re favourites, and — ’99 and ’09 aside — this is sort of why we always found WCQ tough, too. Namibia in ’02 (who registered only three goals in qualifiers all vs. Egypt), Benin in ’06, Zambia in ’10.

[mohamed Zakaria. @mozaak1]

أريد لكل مصري مثقف، محب لوطنه، حريصٍ على كرامته، ألا نلقى الأوروبي فنشعر أن بيننا وبينه من الفروق، ما يبيح له الاستعلاء علينا والاستخفاف بنا.

-طه حسين.
"مستقبل الثقافة في مصر 1938."

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

however, that being said, I feel there’s a sizable gap in quality between first and second tier Asian NTs (possibly the largest bar Oceania and quite similar to CONCACAF). This is starkly different to Africa where first and second tier have become pretty interchangeable.

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

tbf there was almost a four year gap between their 2019 win (where they were fantastic) and the 2022 WC. They weren’t quite as convincing in 2023, and sort of rode their luck a bit imo.

[Komẹ @KahunaKome]

Bro how do Qatar keep winning those Asian cups but still look like the worst team ever? There is something underhanded going on

[. @tosinmm_]

Portugal are playing Armenia and Hungary in World Cup qualifiers

Meanwhile DR Congo had to play Senegal and Nigeria to get here, please have some respect for the continent.

[. @tosinmm_]

Neither.

If you watch enough AFCON you won’t be shocked by either result.

The teams from the African continent have gotten a lot better.

[Yash @Odriozolite]

Hydration breaks have proven to be a chance to switch momentum during the games.

A story of the FIFA World Cup so far!

[wael tawfek @waeltawfek50]

أيمن حسين اللي سجل هدف العراق دلوقتي.. له أخ ضابط شرطة وخطفته داعش وإلى الآن محدش يعرف عنه حاجة..
قصة أيمن، حزينة، عيلته تشردت في حرب العراق 2003، وزادت المعاناة مع العزو الأمريكي للعراق، ثم عاشوا عذابات وقت سيطرة داعش على منطقة الحويجة في العراق..
والده كان ضابط في الجيش العراقي واغتاله تنظيم القاعدة في 2008

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

Olise….

[Ali Howorth @ahoworth97]

Cabo Verde drawing with Spain was so special because in Cabo Verde football is more than a sport, it’s at the centre of the nation’s identity.

[Mohamed Hany⁦⁦ @MohamedHany1966]

الصورة جميلة اوي لكنها بتثير مشاعر مختلطة، مش عارف افرح ولا احزن...غزة هتفضل جرح غائر في قلب أمتنا لحد ماربنا يكتبلنا النصر المبين..ربنا يفرج عنهم ماهم فيه ويجبر خاطرهم

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

lol not a chance

[MAD @alphomodric]

Toutes l’Afrique demain

[Ahmed Assem @Assem74_]

Wrote this back in January just before heading to Casablanca for the AFCON. Two inseparable twins from Helwan.
Egypt’s greatest striker. Egypt’s greatest right back. Whatever your connection to them, Egyptian football’s story cannot be told without Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan.

[Maher Mezahi @MezahiMaher]

While the world’s media are (rightly) focusing on the Mo Salah-needs-to-win-the-AFCON narrative, Egyptians really feel a connection to this team because of “The twins who shaped Egyptian football”

Words by @assem74_ for @africasacountry

https://t.co/hDaVnRflkF