Cairo Stadium to stop hosting club matches until Al Ahly-Zamalek derby

Cairo Stadium will no longer host club matches until the Al Ahly-Zamalek derby on 11 October, the stadium’s authority has officially announced.

The decision means the stadium will not be used for matches in the Egypt Capital Cup, despite having initially been scheduled to stage two games in the opening round of the group stage.

Zamalek had been due to face ZED at Cairo Stadium, while Modern were scheduled to meet National Bank at the venue. However, FilGoal.com reported on Wednesday morning that Cairo Stadium would not host Egypt Capital Cup fixtures and would return to club football for the derby.

Zamalek have contacted Arab Contractors Stadium about transferring their match against ZED to that ground.

The Egyptian Professional Clubs Association has also brought forward the dates of the Al Ahly and Zamalek fixtures in the Egypt Capital Cup. Al Ahly will now play Asyut Petroleum on 7 October, while Zamalek will face ZED on the same day.

Cairo Stadium will instead be used for Egypt’s upcoming international fixtures.

Egypt are scheduled to play Angola at the venue on Friday, 25 September, in the opening round of the African Nations Cup qualifiers. The stadium will also host Egypt’s friendly against South Africa on 4 October.

The Cairo Stadium authority had previously been expected to accommodate a number of club matches, but its revised schedule means the venue will be reserved for the national team until the return of domestic football.

Zamalek and Al Ahly will meet in the sixth round of the league on 11 October, with the game due to take place at Cairo Stadium. That match will mark the stadium’s return to hosting club fixtures after its temporary withdrawal from the Egypt Capital Cup schedule.