Match Info:
Match K.O at: 20:00 Cairo time | 3:00 PM ET (Canada-USA)
Venue: Petro Sport stadium
Referee: Mohamed Maarouf
Leaders and title favourites Zamalek take on already-relegated Damanhour in the Egyptian Premier League.
Zamalek look close to ending an 11-year wait for an elusive league triumph, having blossomed after signing more than a dozen players last summer while Ahly are reeling, having conceded title defeat after a series of disappointing results under former coach Juan Garrido.
The almost certainty that Zamalek have all but won a 12th league title made it an off-pitch race between the Cairo foes, with both sides vying to acquire the services of the country’s leading players amid numerous rumours.
Zamalek have already landed Masry’s left-back Adel Gomaa and re-signed attacking midfielder Mohamed Ibrahim from Portugal’s Maritimo while Ahly, who are suffering from a lack of depth in their squad and profligacy upfront, brought in Ghanaian hitman John Antwi, who enjoyed a fruitful spell at Ismaily before leaving for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Shabab last January.
Mortada Mansour, the outspoken chairman of Zamalek, unleashed some fiery remarks over what he deemed his transfer victories over Ahly, whose officials have also insisted they are on course to overhaul an underachieving squad, making light of Mansour’s comments.
“We tried to divert the media attention to John Antwi, who we did not want to sign, in order to finalise a deal for Malick Evouna,” said the controversial lawyer, referring to Wydad Casablanca’s Gabonese striker who is targeted by Ahly and Zamalek.
Live: Zamalek vs Damanhour | Egyptian Premier League
