LIVE: Zamalek v Al Masry | Egyptian League
21:00 Cairo Local local time | 15:00 ET Canada-USA
Referee: Mahmoud El-Banna
Venue: Alexandria Stadium
Zamalek will be hoping a fresh change of the club’s administration will not derail their Egyptian Premier League run as they face Masry in a tough clash in Alexandria on Monday.
An interim committee that has led the club since November last year was dissolved on Friday after a court ruling voided the regulations through which it was selected.
The committee was replaced with another caretaking administration led by Hussein Labib, a Zamalek handball icon. He will be in charge until the club’s elections take place in September.
Labib will have to deal with mounting financial problems that are overshadowing Zamalek’s bid to win the league title for the first time since 2015, with some stars expected to leave at the end of the season.
Ferjani Sassi is one of the prominent players who are likely to depart as his contract runs out next month. Zamalek are still unable to meet the financial demands of the Tunisian holding midfielder, who won over the team’s fans with a series of impressive displays this term.
But for now, French coach Patrice Carteron will be fully focused on maintaining Zamalek’s fine run as they eye a third consecutive win, having beaten Enppi and Talae El-Geish after snatching a 1-1 draw with Cairo nemesis and main challengers Ahly earlier this month.
With Ahly not in action because of their African Champions League commitments, Zamalek have a chance to open up a significant lead and put pressure on the titleholders.
Zamalek have 51 points on top of the table, 10 clear of Ahly, who still have four games in hand.
Port Said-based club Masry are enjoying an impressive recent run that saw them win five out of their past seven games. They lie third with 39 points, having played the same number of matches as Zamalek.
Zamalek welcome back talisman Mahmoud Shikabala after he served a two-game suspension, giving Carteron a timely boost due to lack of options up front.
Tunisian international Seifeddine Jaziri, who is on loan from Arab Contractors, is expected to once again lead the team’s attack after opening his account in the victory over El-Geish.
FT: Zamalek 3-2 Al Masry | Egyptian League
