Al Ahly, the defending champion, seeks to bolster its record-breaking number of titles in the Egyptian Super Cup football competition as it faces Modern Future, eager for its inaugural title.
The clash unfolds Thursday at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium at Al Jazeera Club in Abu Dhabi in the 21st edition’s final.
Al Ahly aspires to claim its fourteenth title in the competition, marking the first in the new format featuring four teams.
The team secured its spot in the final by defeating Ceramica Cleopatra 1-0.
On the other side, Future triumphed over Pyramids FC, winning 14-13 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw in regular time.
The task for Al Ahly is far from easy, given the general fatigue and injuries plaguing the team after playing four matches in 10 days, including three in the Club World Cup in Jeddah, where they secured third place and the bronze medal.
Al Ahly’s goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy is dealing with a slight strain in the hamstring, and Ahmed Ibrahim has a calf injury.
Their participation in the final remains uncertain, as confirmed by the team doctor Ahmed Gaballah.
Marcel Koller, Al Ahly’s Swiss coach, emphasized the difficulty of facing Future, stating, “The task is not easy against Future.”
He refused to consider it easier after Future eliminated Pyramids, initially considered the frontrunner for the final.
Koller added, “The level is close between us, and Future will seek to win the title.
The path has become more challenging, not the other way around.”
Meanwhile, Modern Future’s players and coaching staff are aiming for their first-ever club title.
The team faces challenges with the absence of several players due to injuries, including Omar Kamal Abdelwahid, Mohamed Farouk, Nasser Maher, and Mohamed Abdel Salam.
Portuguese coach Ricardo Formosinho expressed his determination to prepare the players for the final uniquely, following a tough match against Pyramids.
Formosinho acknowledged the challenge this time against Al Ahly, a club with a rich history and extensive fan base.
As Pyramids confronts Ceramica Cleopatra for the third-place playoff on the same pitch, speculation surrounds the potential departure of Pyramids’ Portuguese coach Jaime Pacheco.
Reports suggest Pyramids’ management is negotiating with several foreign coaches, including recently dismissed Qatari national team coach, Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, and former Al Ahly South African coach Pitso Mosimane, recently released from his position at Al Wahda in the UAE.
Pacheco, despite the loss to Future, asserted, “I am not worried about my future despite the loss.
I won’t lose my position due to negative results in two matches while leading the Egyptian league.
We still have a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League.”
