18:00 Cairo Local Time 11:00 ET Canada-USA
Venue: Cairo Stadium (Egypt)
Zamalek’s newly returning coach Jesualdo Ferreira will have to win against Morocco’s Wydad Athletic on Friday, in his first official match, in order to revive the Whites’ hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the African Champions League.
Ferreira took charge of Zamalek at a crucial time in the African competition, as the Whites have yet to achieve any victories in the groupstage matches. They were held by Angola’s Petro Atletico and Sagrada Esperanza in the first and second matches before losing against Wydad 3-1.
Zamalek are in third place in Group D with two points. First-placed Petro Atletico has seven points, Wydad is in second with six points, while Sagrada Esperanza are at the bottom of the group with only one point.
The White Knights posted a video earlier on their official website showing Ferreira giving an enthusiastic speech to his players ahead of the Wydad game.
“The rules are very easy now, we have an important game after three days. Either all or nothing. You know Wydad well as you have faced them before; I do not know Wydad, but I know you and I do not care who we are facing,” the 75-year-old Portuguese coach told Zamalek players.
Ferreira became one of Zamalek’s fans’ favourites after becoming the club’s head coach in 2015, helping them earn the Egyptian Premier League title and the Egypt Cup title that year.
Ferreira left his position as head coach late 2015, going over to Qatari side Al Sadd.
Supporters of the White Knights hope Ferreira – or “The Professor” as they call him – will repeat the performance to bring back the team on the right track of victories.
LIVE: Zamalek v Wydad Casablanca | CAF Champions League
18:00 Cairo Local Time 11:00 ET Canada-USA
