LIVE: Ismaily SC v Zamalek SC | Derby | Egyptian League
19:30 Cairo local time | 12:30 ET
Venue: Ismailia Stadium
Zamalek have a busy schedule this month. The team will face Ismaily on the 17th matchday of the Egyptian Premier League on Sunday, five days before battling it out with Esperance of Tunisia in the African Super Cup.
The Whites will also face arch-rivals Ahly in the Egypt Super Cup in the UAE on 20 February, then the two sides will meet again in the Egyptian Premier League on 24 February before finishing the month playing against Esperance of Tunisia on 29 February.
“February is a very important month to us, with two games and potentially two trophies,” Zamalek’s football director Amir Mansour told the club’s official website.
“The game against Ismaily will be a good warm-up for the Super Cups.”
Egyptian international striker Mostafa Mohamed will boost Zamalek’s squad ahead of ismaily clash after serving his one match ban.
Tunisian midfielder Ferjani Sassi will also boost the Whites after missing the 2-0 win over minor side Haras El-Hodoud in the Egyptian Premier League last week.
In-form winger Mahmoud Shikabala will remain out of the pitch after he had been sidelined during the goalless draw with Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto and Haras El-Hodoud.
Zamalek are third in the league table with 28 points. They have been inconsistent in their domestic campaign, falling a staggering 11 points behind defending champions Ahly, who also have a game in hand.
Zamalek’s only hope is in finishing second in the league table to earn an African Champions League spot next season.
Ismaily are eager to return to winning ways after losing their last game against Aswan 2-1 in the league then improving their position on the teams’ table.
The Dervishes’ squad will be boosted by the return of striker Mohamed El-Shami after finishing his rehab programme alongside Tunisian striker Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and in-form playmaker Ayman Magdi.
Ismaily are in the ninth place in the league table with 21 points, seven points behind opponents Zamalek.
LIVE: Ismaily SC v Zamalek SC
19:30 Cairo local time | 12:30 ET
Zamalek 2-1 Ismaily
