Gomez vs. Koller: Portuguese dreams match Swiss beginnings in Ahly-Zamalek summit

The excitement doesn’t just reside within the football pitch in the Egyptian Cup final between Zamalek and Al Ahly, scheduled for 7:30 PM today, Friday, at the Al-Oula Park Stadium in Saudi Arabia.

It extends beyond the sidelines into the anticipated clash between Portuguese José Gomes, coach of Zamalek, and Swiss Marcel Koller, manager of Al Ahly. Each hopes to lead their team to the championship podium and return from Saudi Arabia with the coveted title.

For Gomes, the match holds special significance as it marks his first summit while leading Zamalek. Fate has aligned this crucial encounter to potentially grant him his first title with the White Knights.

A victory would etch his name in the hearts of Zamalek’s faithful, as he would have triumphed in the derby and brought back glory to the club.

Gomes has led Zamalek in three matches prior to the cup final. In the Nile League, they faced Ismaily in the 13th round, ending in a scoreless draw, and secured a 1-0 victory against El Dakhleya in the 14th round at Cairo Stadium.

In the Confederation Cup, the team clinched an away win against Libya’s Abu Salim with a score of 2-1, securing advancement to the quarter-finals by topping Group Two.

However, if Gomes dreams of success in his first summit, Koller enters armed with his experience in managing such high-stakes encounters.

Under Koller’s leadership, Al Ahly has seen significant success in their confrontations with Zamalek.

He aims to secure his fourth victory over Zamalek, adding a second title to his collection with the Red Devils.

Koller’s dominance manifested in two league matches last season, where Al Ahly won 3-0 and 4-1, respectively.

The Swiss coach’s aspirations intertwine with Zamalek’s rivalry, as he aims to claim victory in the Egyptian Cup final, mirroring the success of his Swiss counterpart in the early stages and securing Zamalek’s first-ever Egyptian Cup victory in 2023.