Zamalek confirm Hossam Ashraf and Mohamed Ibrahim will miss Egyptian Premier League opener

Zamalek will begin their Egyptian Premier League title defence without Hossam Ashraf and Mohamed Ibrahim, who are suspended for Friday’s meeting with Al Ittihad Alexandria.

The match is scheduled for 21 August at Cairo International Stadium and will be Zamalek’s opening fixture of the new Egyptian Premier League campaign. The club confirmed that both players will be unavailable because of accumulated bookings.

Mohamed Ibrahim received his third yellow card during Zamalek’s match against Ceramica Cleopatra, which was the club’s final fixture of the previous league season. That booking means he must serve a suspension when Zamalek face Al Ittihad Alexandria in their first match of the new campaign.

Ashraf will also miss the game after collecting a yellow card in his final appearance during his loan spell with Smouha. His suspension, like Ibrahim’s, is the result of the accumulation of bookings.

The absences leave Zamalek without two members of their squad for the opening match as they start the campaign after winning the latest edition of the Egyptian Premier League. The title was the club’s 15th in the competition’s history.

Zamalek’s most recent fixture was a friendly against Modern Sport before the league began. That match ended in a 2-2 draw, providing the team with their final preparation before the competitive campaign got under way.

The club will now turn their attention to the league opener against Al Ittihad Alexandria, with Ashraf and Ibrahim ruled out before the first ball is kicked. Their suspensions were confirmed after the disciplinary consequences of their respective bookings became applicable to the new season.