Zamalek has been infused with morale boosts ahead of the highly anticipated Egyptian football summit and derby, as they gear up to face their traditional arch-rivals, Al Ahly, in the final match of the 2023-2022 Egypt Cup.
The First Park Stadium in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is set to host the long-awaited derby between Egypt’s football powerhouses, scheduled for next Friday evening at 7 PM Cairo time, to determine the champion of last season’s oldest and most prestigious domestic tournament.
Currently, the White Knights are enjoying a period of administrative stability after Hussein Labib and his board took charge at the White House, successfully resolving many administrative issues and reinforcing the team with several signings.
The morale boosts for Zamalek ahead of the cup final derby include:
- New Signings: Zamalek secured the services of 10 new players in a fiery winter transfer window after the club’s administration managed to clear the team’s roster.
Notable signings include former international star Abdullah El Said and Nasser Maher, along with the return of Saif Farouk Jaafar, bolstering the team’s lineup and evident in their recent matches against Ismaily, Libya’s Abu Salim, and Dakhleya.
- Return of Injured Players: The team from Mit Okba neighborhood will welcome back the services of star player and team captain Mahmoud Abdel Razek Shikabala, who participated in Friday’s collective training sessions, gearing up to face Guinea’s Souar in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Shikabala missed Zamalek’s match against Dakhleya last Thursday due to a foot injury.
Additionally, new recruit Ziyad Kamal has recovered from his recent hamstring injury, sustained during his time at Enppi.
- Shikabala’s Contract Renewal: Club officials successfully renewed the contract of team captain Mahmoud Abdel Razek Shikabala, ensuring his continued presence with the team for another season, with an option to extend for a further season.
Shikabala’s contract with the White Knights is reportedly his most lucrative since joining Zamalek, with reports suggesting he earns 10 million Egyptian pounds per season.
- Foreign Referees for Cup Final: In the past few hours, there has been heated debate over the identity of the referee for the Egypt Cup final match.
While the initial inclination was towards using an Egyptian referee, Zamalek has expressed its desire, on more than one occasion, to bring in a foreign refereeing team to officiate the final against Al Ahly.
Officials from both Al Ahly and Zamalek have officially requested the Egyptian Football Association to bring in a foreign referee to manage the cup final.
