20:00 Cairo local time | 13:00 ET Canada-USA
Venue: Cairo’s international stadium
Referee: Ibrahim Nour-Eldin
Zamalek will face El Gouna FC tonight after they snatched a last-gasp 3-2 victory over top-flight debutants Future FC after coming from two goals down.
They were led by caretaker coach Osama Nabih after Frenchman Patrice Carteron was sacked following a four-match winless run in all competitions, which included a surprise 2-0 league loss to Smouha.
Nabih will be in charge again for the last time when Zamalek face Gouna, with the veteran Ferreira set to take over afterwards.
The 75-year-old returns to the club he led to a rare domestic double in 2015, having penned a one-and-a-half year contract. He is expected to watch the Gouna game from the stands before taking charge in Friday’s crucial African Champions League clash at home to Morocco’s Raja.
Ferreira is expected to be given a warm welcome by Zamalek’s fans, who fondly call him “The Professor”. They will be hoping his arrival would turn around the team’s fortunes as they seek to defend the league title.
They lie third in the table with 22 points from 10 games, three behind Ahly, who have a game in hand, and four adrift of leaders Pyramids FC.
“We still have destiny in our hands … do not bother with talks that the title had already been settled. We will still face Ahly,” Zamalek chairman Mortada Mansour said.
Gouna, who lie 10th in the table with 14 points, won three out of their past five league games.
Zamalek will still miss midfield linchpin Tarek Hamed, who was left out of the squad despite returning to full training on Saturday.
Skipper and experienced schemer Mahmoud Shikabala was also excluded.
LIVE: Zamalek v El Gouna FC | Egyptian League
20:00 Cairo local time | 13:00 ET Canada-USA
