Smouha recall Papy Badji as Ceramica Cleopatra make goalkeeper change

Papy Badji returns to the starting line-up for Smouha as they face Ceramica Cleopatra in the fourth round of the Egyptian Premier League at Borg El Arab Stadium on Monday.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00, with both sides naming their teams before the meeting.

Badji missed Smouha’s most recent fixture against Al Ahly but comes straight back into the attack for this game. He replaces Fady Farid in the starting XI as Smouha look for their first goal of the season.

Smouha are bottom of the table in 18th place with one point from their opening matches. They are the only team in the Egyptian Premier League yet to score, increasing the importance of Badji’s return to the forward line.

Ceramica Cleopatra, meanwhile, have made a change in goal. Head coach Ali Maher has selected Mohamed Alaa instead of Mohamed Bassam between the posts.

Slovenian forward Nejc Gradisar starts for Ceramica Cleopatra, with Marwan Osman also named in the attacking line-up. The club sit sixth in the table with six points.

Smouha’s starting XI is:

Goalkeeper: Ahmed Mihoub

Defenders: Ali Gamal, Mohamed Desouky, Ahmed Abdel Rasoul, Mohamed Ragab

Midfielders: Samir Fekry, Amr El Sisi, Khaled El Ghandour

Forwards: Mohamed Saeed, Papy Badji, Mohamed Kone

Ceramica Cleopatra’s team is:

Goalkeeper: Mohamed Alaa

Defenders: Hussein El Sayed, Ahmed Ramadan, Justice Arthur, Ahmed Hany

Midfielders: Amr Qalawa, Mohamed Reda “Bobo”, Ahmed Belhaj

Forwards: Samir El Iraqi, Nejc Gradisar, Marwan Osman

The line-ups underline the contrasting starts made by the two teams in the competition. Ceramica Cleopatra have collected six points from their opening three rounds and begin the match in sixth place.

Smouha have only one point and are 18th, while their failure to score in any of their games has left them searching for a response in attack. Badji’s inclusion gives them a familiar option at the head of the forward line after he was left out against Al Ahly.

The match will take place at Borg El Arab Stadium, with Ceramica Cleopatra attempting to strengthen their position in the upper half of the table and Smouha seeking their first victory and first goal of the season.