Zamalek will kick off their new Egyptian League season with a visit to newcomers El-Nasr Taadin at Aswan Stadium with all eyes set on the CAF Champions League final against South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in mid-October. Having squeezed out a 6-5 aggregate victory over Morocco's Wydad Casablanca, who emerged winners 5-2 in a nervy return leg in Rabat, the Whites are now finally back to Africa's premier club competition final for the first time in 14 years. Unlike arch-rivals Ahly, who bowed out of the Champions League from the group stage, the Zamalek management enters the game against Taadin preoccupied by their African squad issues ahead of their first-leg game at Sundowns in Pretoria. Manager Moemen Soliman, who guided Zamalek to their fourth consecutive Egypt Cup title at the expense of Ahly in the final, opted to rest some key players against their low-profile opponents in the league opener. Most notably, striker Bassem Morsi – who bagged seven goals in five games under Soliman - has been ruled out of the squad, alongside Ahmed Dwidar, Islam Gamal, Maarouf Yusuf and Ibrahim Salah. The quintet are key members for Zamalek in their limited Champions League roster, which now includes only 19 members, including three goalkeepers, following the release of several players in the summer. And the long-term injuries of left-back Ali Fathi and flamboyant playmaker Mohamed Ibrahim made matters even worse, leaving manager Soliman with only four players on the bench to choose from in both legs against Wydad. With the Zamalek coach being forced to field the same backline and midfield amid the severe shortage in Africa, changes became imperative at Taadin, where new summer-signings could well make their competitive debuts. Defenders Mahmoud Hamdi, Osama Ibrahim, Hosni Fathi, midfield duo Mahmoud 'Dunga' and Salah Riko are poised for their first appearance in a Zamalek shirt, with others in Shawki El-Said and Mohamed Nassef ready for their league bow. It also remains to be seen who will fill the lone striker role, with Emmanuel Mayuka and returnee Ahmed Gaafar both available – alongside Stanley Ohawuchi who scored a vital goal and dished out another in the 5-2 defeat at Wydad. Zamalek will be hoping to dethrone defending champions Ahly this time around after managing to win the league title for the first time in 11 years in the 2014-15 season. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
