Football fans across Egypt are turning their attention to Cairo International Stadium at 8:00 PM tomorrow, Friday, for the highly anticipated clash between Al Ahly SC and Zamalek SC in the Egyptian Premier League—a match widely expected to play a decisive role in determining this season’s champion.
The encounter carries immense importance for both sides. Zamalek is targeting all three points, a victory that would bring them significantly closer to securing the league title. Meanwhile, Al Ahly is looking to bounce back and regain balance after suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat against Pyramids FC last Monday.
Al Ahly Squad for the Zamalek Clash
Al Ahly head coach Jess Thorup has announced his squad for the upcoming Cairo derby. The list features the return of captain Mohamed El Shenawy following the end of his suspension, while Yasser Ibrahim is ruled out due to injury and Mohamed Hany misses the match through suspension.
The squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, Hamza Alaa
Defenders: Yassin Marei, Ahmed Ramadan, Hadi Riyad, Amr El Gazzar, Ahmed Nabil “Koka”, Mohamed Shokry, Ahmed Eid
Midfielders: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Marwan Attia, Emam Ashour, Aliou Dieng, Ahmed Sayed Zizo
Forwards: Taher Mohamed Taher, Mohamed Sherif, Achraf Bencharki, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Hussein El Shahat
Jess Thorup Reacts to Heavy Loss Against Pyramids
Al Ahly manager Jess Thorup expressed strong frustration following his team’s 3-0 defeat to Pyramids FC, describing the result as highly unexpected given the overall flow of the match.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, Thorup began by congratulating the opponent, stating that Pyramids ultimately deserved the victory, despite the game unfolding differently for much of the contest.
He explained that Al Ahly did not allow any real scoring opportunities during the first 45 minutes, but individual mistakes in the latter stages directly altered the course of the match and enabled Pyramids to gain momentum.
Thorup added that Al Ahly managed to score a goal that could have changed the outcome, but it was disallowed for offside following a VAR review. He noted that he had reviewed the incident multiple times and believed it was not offside, although the final decision rested with the Video Assistant Referee.
The coach continued by stating that the team maintained control until the closing stages, but the final 15 minutes saw a complete loss of focus and composure—something he described as “crazy” and unacceptable in a match of such magnitude.
He pointed out that the second and third goals conceded resulted from clear defensive errors, which caused the team to completely lose balance in the closing minutes, allowing Pyramids to secure a comprehensive victory.
Al Ahly Seeks Redemption in Crucial Derby
Thorup concluded by acknowledging the difficulty of facing the media after such a defeat, emphasizing the urgent need to review mistakes and address them quickly ahead of the next stage.
With the Cairo derby approaching, Al Ahly will be determined to restore stability and remain firmly in the title race, while Zamalek aims to capitalize on the situation in what promises to be one of the most intense and decisive matches of the Egyptian Premier League season.
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