February 15, 2025

Football Africa

All Africa Football News

The African Zidane: Who is Trika, the Maestro Who Never Played in Europe?

3 min read

Most underrated African Legend Mohamed Abu Trika

Mohamed Abu Trika, the Egyptian player, was described by Ivorian legend Didier Drogba as “The African Zinedine Zidane.” An exceptional player who never had the opportunity to play professionally in Europe, he created a historic legacy in Africa.

Drogba, the Ivorian legend, said, “If Abu Trika had moved to a European club, he would have achieved amazing success.” Senegalese legend El Hadji Diouf stated, “If Abu Trika were Brazilian, the public would have considered him the best player in the world.” Ghanaian star Michael Essien described him as “one of the best players in African history.” So, what made “The Prince of Hearts,” as he is called in Egypt, receive all this admiration?

The Beginning: A Star from Nahya

Mohamed Abu Trika was born on November 7, 1978, in the village of Nahya, in Giza Governorate. He began his football career with the Egyptian club El-Terssana, playing 80 matches in the Egyptian Premier League and the Egypt Cup, scoring 29 goals, which made him one of the most prominent emerging talents in Egyptian football.

Al Ahly: The Most Important Stop

In January 2004, Abu Trika moved to Al Ahly, marking the start of an unforgettable journey with the club’s golden generation. During his time with Al Ahly, he played 287 matches across various competitions, scoring 126 goals.

In the Egyptian Premier League specifically, he played 164 matches and scored 79 goals, becoming one of the top scorers in the competition. In the Egypt Cup, he appeared in 17 matches and scored 9 goals.

His contributions were not limited to domestic competitions. In African tournaments, he played 90 matches and scored 32 goals, becoming the all-time top scorer for both Al Ahly and Egypt in the CAF Champions League, with 31 goals. He also left his mark globally in the FIFA Club World Cup, where he scored 4 goals in 11 matches, making him the top scorer among Arabs and Africans in the competition.

Drogba: Abu Trika is the most underrated African legend

The Perfect Playmaker

Abu Trika was not only a goal scorer but also a brilliant playmaker. During his time with Al Ahly, he provided 50 assists, including 27 in the league, 4 in the Egypt Cup, and 19 in African competitions, confirming his crucial role in leading the team to victory.

Individual Achievements

Abu Trika excelled individually, winning the African Player of the Year award four times in 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2013, and was selected for the Africa XI during these years.

Domestically, he was the top scorer in the Egyptian Premier League in the 2005–2006 season, scoring 18 goals, and also won the top scorer award in the Egypt Cup in the 2006–2007 season.

National Team Career

Abu Trika wore the Egypt national team shirt 100 times between 2001 and 2013, scoring 38 goals. His most memorable goals for the national team include the decisive penalty that won Egypt the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations against Ivory Coast, as well as the historic winning goal in the 2008 final against Cameroon.

Professional Experience

Although he never played professionally in Europe, Abu Trika had a brief experience with the UAE’s Baniyas Club in 2013, where he played 12 matches, scoring 5 goals, and helping the team win the Gulf Champions League title.

Abu Trika is one of only 9 players in the history of the Egyptian Premier League to score 100 goals. He won countless titles with Al Ahly and the Egypt national team, including 2 Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2006, 2008, as well as the FIFA Club World Cup bronze in 2006.

With his decisive goals and golden assists, Abu Trika will remain “The African Zinedine Zidane,” who created glory with his talent, even if he never experienced European professional football.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *