 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 Ivory Coast.