Al Ahly of Cairo took a fresh blow when keeper Ahmed Saad produced a sensational display to help Haras Coast Guards claim a 1-0 victory on Sunday.
The Red Devils, league champions for the past eight seasons, had to do without six players, with Walid Soliman, Moemen Zakareya, Mahmoud Trezeguet, Sabri Rahil, Hussein El-Sayed all ruled out with injuries. Defender Saad Samir is suspended.
Although in-form midfielder Abdallah El-Said, striker Emad Meteb and others provided the needed firepower upfront, they could not find a way past an inspired Saad who stole the show with a series of outstanding saves.
Ghaly stripped of captaincy
Veteran midfielder Hossam Ghaly has been dumped as skipper of Cairo giants Ahly after he lost his temper and kicked the captain’s armband to the ground after being sent off in Coast Guards game.
The 33-year-old received his marching orders with 12 minutes remaining of Ahly’s 1-0 defeat by Coast Guards (Haras El-Hodoud), having picked up two yellow cards in quick succession for furiously protesting against a refereeing decision.
On his way out, the schemer took off the armband and kicked it in an action that he described as “involuntary”.
“I never meant to offend the club as many people said,”
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“Chairman Mahmoud Taher, who is authorized by the board of directors to manage football affairs, has decided to strip Ghaly of the captain’s armband,” Ahly said in a brief statement on their official website.
“The team’s technical staff will also impose sanctions on him because of what he did in the defeat by The Coast Guards.”
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