Ahly could have not have faced bitter rivals Ismaily at a worse time after coach Jose Peseiro shocked them by an abrupt decision to resign in the late hours of Monday, less than 48 hours before the anticipated Egyptian Premier League clash on Wednesday. The Portuguese coach informed Ahly chairman Mahmoud Taher that he would step down, citing the heavy criticism he has been facing since taking charge of the club in October, the Red Devils said in a statement. However, Portuguese media reported that Peseiro is in line to take over at 2004 European Champions League winners Porto. Ahly welcomed his departure anyway, given the amount of criticism directed at the board for some inconsistent displays which saw Ahly lose twice and draw twice in eight league matches under his guidance. Reports linked Ahly with a host of managers, including Hossam El-Badri who had two previous spells in charge of Egypt and Africa's most successful outfit. "We don't want to talk now about any new names that are being linked with the Ahly job until we finish the upcoming two matches," said caretaker coach Abdel-Aziz Abdel-Shafi 'Zizo'. "Our match against Ismaily is difficult because the two teams are very similar in terms of their current technical and physical attributes, plus the injuries that I have to deal with," added the club icon, who led Ahly to an exciting 3-2 victory over arch rivals Zamalek in the Egyptian Super Cup last year when he was also in charge on an interim basis. There is no love lost between Ismaily and Ahly. Ismaily's fans have always accused Ahly of using their wealth and power to snap up their team's best players while the Cairo giants' supporters dismiss this notion as merely an attempt to make up excuses for repeated failures. Ismaily won the last of their three league titles in 2002 in one of the most thrilling campaigns in the history of the competition, drawing with Ahly 4-4 in the process in a remarkable clash. Nicknamed the Dervishes, Ismaily, who last beat Ahly in November 2010, were dearly affected by the departure of coach Mido in December. They will be looking to snap a three-game winless run when they face Ahly at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium. Ahly will have to do without several key players, including injured midfielders Hossam Ghaly, Saleh Gomaa and Walid Soliman. Defensive midfielder Hossam Ashour is also out due to automatic suspension and strikers Malick Evouna and Amr Gamal might not be available due to injuries. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/181434.aspx
