Zamalek vs Al Ahly | Live today full preview
The match will be live on www.NileSports.tv
Date & Time: 22 Jul 2012 – 22:00 (Cairo Time)
Ahly and Zamalek will have to do without their fans for the first time in the Cairo derby history as they face off in Sunday’s African Champions League tie.
Bitter rivals Ahly and Zamalek, who used to bank heavily on the enthusiastic support of their fans, will need to find another source of motivation when they meet in an anticipated African Champions League clash at Cairo’s Military Academy Stadium on Sunday.
The white-clad and red-clad fans, traditionally separated by an empty section in the stands to avoid any flare-up of tensions, will be missing for the first time in the Cairo derby history due to lingering security concerns in Egypt.
Fans have not been allowed to attend any game in the country since February’s infamous Port Said tragedy, which left dozens dead and led to the indefinite suspension of domestic football activities, with Ahly and Zamalek restricted to few competitive games in Africa’s premier club competition.
Ahly fans used to outnumber their Zamalek counterparts but both sides equally spiced up the popular affairs, ensuring some excitement even when the Cairo rivals produced subdued performances.
“Fans absence will definitely affect both teams performance,” Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry, who took charge of the team for a second spell following the departure of highly-successful manager Manuel Jose of Portugal, said in an interview with CAF’s official website.
“We hoped they could have attended the game to give the derby its regular atmosphere. But it remains a big game despite being played behind closed doors.
“I hope the Previous Champions League meetings:
Zamalek 1-2 Ahly (2005 semi-final, first leg)
Ahly 2-0 Zamalek (2005 semi-final, second leg)
Zamalek 1-2 Ahly (2008 group stage)
Ahly 2-2 Zamalek (2008 group stage)
The match will be live on www.NileSports.tv
Date & Time: 22 Jul 2012 – 22:00 (Cairo Time)
Probable line-ups:
Ahly: Sherif Ekramy, Ahmed Fathi, Wael Gomaa, Mohamed Naguib, Sayed Moawad, Hossam Ghaly, Hossam Ashour, Mohamed Abou-Treika, Walid Soliman, Mohamed Barakat, Emad Meteb
Zamalek: Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed, Hazem Emam, Mahmoud Fathallah, Hamada Tolba, Mohamed Abdel-Shafi, Alexis Mendomo, Ibrahim Salah, Nour El-Sayed, Ahmed Hassan, Islam Awad, Abdoulaye Cisse
game ends peacefully and in a way that justifies the big names of Ahly and Zamalek in Egypt and on the continent.”
Ahly and Zamalek played out a 2-2 draw the last time they met in the Champions League, a group-stage game in 2008.
Amr Zaki will not play
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9NJ8IO96nM[/youtube]
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H9boG3Pi0g[/youtube]
The match will be live on www.NileSports.tv
Date & Time: 22 Jul 2012 – 22:00 (Cairo Time)
