EGX indices in red by mid-Sunday trade    Egypt's Labour Ministry offers 600 free training grants for youth    Egypt ramps up grid projects to lead regional energy trade    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    CBE Deputy Governor attends ceremony appointing DPI as new manager of 'Nclude'    Egypt to announce new private sector financing deals at Sunday conference    Egypt deploys over 2,400 ambulances to support high school exams nationwide    Environment Minister chairs closing session on Mediterranean Sea protection at UN Ocean Conference    Egypt nuclear authority: No radiation rise amid regional unrest    Egypt selected for $1bn climate fund decarbonisation programme: Al-Mashat    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt delays Grand Museum opening to Q4 amid regional tensions    Israel and Iran's nuclear programme: Intense strikes and "limited damage"    Egypt's Foreign Minister condemns Israeli strikes in calls with European, Iraqi counterparts    Trump faces MAGA backlash as Israel-Iran conflict tests non-interventionist promise    Egypt slams Israeli strike on Iran, warns of regional chaos    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's EDA joins high-level Africa-Europe medicines regulatory talks    US Senate clears over $3b in arms sales to Qatar, UAE    Egypt discusses urgent population, development plan with WB    Egypt reaffirms commitment to ocean conservation at UN conference    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt, Serbia explore cultural cooperation in heritage, tourism    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Egypt launches "Memory of the City" app to document urban history    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Preview: Ahly, Zamalek lock horns behind closed doors
Ahly and Zamalek will have to do without their fans for the first time in the Cairo derby history as they face off in Sunday's African Champions League tie
Published in Ahram Online on 21 - 07 - 2012

Bitter rivals Ahly and Zamalek, who used to bank heavily on the enthusiastic support of their fans, will need to find another source of motivation when they meet in an anticipated African Champions League clash at Cairo's Military Academy Stadium on Sunday.
The white-clad and red-clad fans, traditionally separated by an empty section in the stands to avoid any flare-up of tensions, will be missing for the first time in the Cairo derby history due to lingering security concerns in Egypt.
Fans have not been allowed to attend any game in the country since February's infamous Port Said tragedy, which led to the indefinite suspension of domestic football activities, with Ahly and Zamalek restricted to few competitive games in Africa's premier club competition.
Ahly fans used to outnumber their Zamalek counterparts but both sides equally spiced up the popular affair, ensuring some excitement even when the Cairo rivals produced subdued performances.
"Fans' absence will definitely affect both teams' performance," Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry, who took charge of the team for a second spell following the departure of highly-successful manager Manuel Jose of Portugal, said in an interview with CAF's official website.
"We hoped they could have attended the game to give the Derby its regular atmosphere. But it remains a big game despite being played behind closed doors.
"I hope the game ends peacefully and in a way that justifies the big names of Ahly and Zamalek in Egypt and on the continent."
Ahly and Zamalek played out a 2-2 draw the last time they met in the Champions League, a group-stage game in 2008.
Derby jinx
Zamalek have often found themselves on the back foot going into the Cairo derby in recent seasons, the success-starved side enduring a 12-match winless streak against Ahly, whose 2008 Champions League triumph set a record of six continental titles, one ahead of Zamalek.
The White Knights hardly see any positive signs to end that jinx, having opened their Champions League group-stage campaign with a 3-2 defeat at Ghana's Chelsea after conceding a stoppage-time goal.
Ahly, in contrast, were highly convincing in seeing off TP Mazembe of the DR Congo with a 2-1 victory in Cairo, taking advantage of the abundant of attacking midfielders at their disposal.
Zamalek are struggling for creativity as they failed to find an adequate replacement for dazzling winger Mahmoud Abdel-Razek 'Shikabala', banned by the club for an indefinite period following his touchline row with coach Hassan Shehata in a Champions League preliminary round game.
"The Ahly-Zamalek game might look like a friendly one because of the absence of the fans," former Egypt boss Shehata, whose future in under scrutiny, said on Zamalek's website.
"We always play for a win, and I have the utmost confidence in the abilities of my players to fulfill the ambitions of the fans," he added.
Zamalek were dealt a defensive blow before the match after Salah Soliman and Hani Saied were ruled out due to injury and suspension respectively, leaving Shehata in a dilemma.
Hamada Talba, who joined Zamalek on loan from Maqassa, is likely to partner Mahmoud Fathallah in the heart of the team's defence, which has come in for fierce criticism lately for letting in some soft goals.
Zamalek will also miss combative striker Amr Zaki, who could not recover from a knee injury in time to make the game.
Ahly have no injury worries ahead of the game. They were also boosted by the return of key trio Emad Meteb, Ahmed Fathi and Mohamed Abou-Treika, who represent the three over-age players in Egypt's squad for the Olympic Games in London.
Previous Champions League meetings:
Zamalek 1-2 Ahly (2005 semi-final, first leg)
Ahly 2-0 Zamalek (2005 semi-final, second leg)
Zamalek 1-2 Ahly (2008 group stage)
Ahly 2-2 Zamalek (2008 group stage)
Probable line-ups:
Ahly: Sherif Ekramy, Ahmed Fathi, Wael Gomaa, Mohamed Naguib, Sayed Moawad, Hossam Ghaly, Hossam Ashour, Mohamed Abou-Treika, Walid Soliman, Mohamed Barakat, Emad Meteb
Zamalek: Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed, Hazem Emam, Mahmoud Fathallah, Hamada Tolba, Mohamed Abdel-Shafi, Alexis Mendomo, Ibrahim Salah, Nour El-Sayed, Ahmed Hassan, Islam Awad, Abdoulaye Cisse
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports)


Clic here to read the story from its source.