DERBY: Ismaily vs Al Ahly | Match Video Preview
Match Time:
Ahly vs. Ismaily 17:00 Cairo local time | 10:00 ET Canada-USA
Al Ahly will face bitter rivals Ismaily at a bad time after coach Jose Peseiro shocked them by an abrupt decision to resign in the late hours of Monday, less than 48 hours before the anticipated Egyptian Premier League clash on Wednesday.
The Portuguese coach informed Ahly chairman Mahmoud Taher that he would step down, citing the heavy criticism he has been facing since taking charge of the club in October, the Red Devils said in a statement.
Club icon Abdel-Aziz Abdel-Shafi “Zizo”, head of the football sector, becomes a caretaker boss for the second time in a few months.
In his previous stint, which came following the sacking of Fathi Mabrouk following the end of last season, Zizo helped Ahly pull off a thrilling 3-2 victory over Cairo rivals Zamalek in the Egyptian Super Cup in October.
“Our match against Ismaily is difficult because the two teams are very similar in terms of their current technical and physical attributes, plus the injuries that I have to deal with,” ZIZO added.
Match Preview:
Al Ahly lineup prediction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOfBiNyTlpI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9EBhpMjMGc
Ismaily is ready
Ismaily’s fans have always accused Ahly of using their wealth and power to snap up their team’s best players while the Cairo giants’ supporters dismiss this notion as merely an attempt to make up excuses for repeated failures.
Ismaily won the last of their three league titles in 2002 in one of the most thrilling campaigns in the history of the competition, drawing with Ahly 4-4 in the process in a remarkable clash.
Nicknamed the Dervishes, Ismaily, who last beat Ahly in November 2010, were dearly affected by the departure of coach Mido in December. They will be looking to snap a three-game winless run when they face Ahly at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium.
Ahly will have to do without several key players, including injured midfielders Hossam Ghaly, Saleh Gomaa and Walid Soliman.
Defensive midfielder Hossam Ashour is also out due to automatic suspension and strikers Malick Evouna and Amr Gamal might not be available due to injuries.
Ismaily will miss skipper Hosni Abd-Rabou and Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Banahene, who are both injured.
