Zamalek's first football team is preparing for an important match against Morocco's Wydad on Saturday in the third round of Group D in the African Champions League at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco. President of Zamalek Mortada Mansour was keen to send important messages to his players before their departure for Morocco on Wednesday, urging them to return to winning ways after losing four points in the first and second rounds of the African group stage against the Angolan teams Petro Atletico and Sagrada. Mansour also asked the players to do their best in the match until they achieve victory, as it is a matter of life or death for the Whites, who are on the path to exiting the group stage of the Champions League just like in the previous edition. As for coach Patrice Carteron, Mortada Mansour asked him to play the match with the correct formation without making any mistakes like what happened in the previous matches, and to focus on the green rectangle only. Daily News Egypt learned from its sources inside the White Club that Mansour is preparing to sack the French coach in the event the team loses to Morocco's Wydad, adding that the announcement would be made after the match and that a contract would be struck with a more competent alternative coach that can improve the team's performance. If Carteron succeeds in beating Wydad, however, the administration will give him a final chance to correct his mistakes and hopefully earn the White Knights the Champions League's shield. Speaking of the match technically, Zamalek is scheduled to train in Morocco throughout Thursday and Friday in preparation for the match on Saturday. On Friday, the technical press conference for the meeting will also be held, which will be attended by coach Carteron and a player from the team to talk about the match and its importance. A technical meeting will be held as well to determine the uniforms that the teams will wear and brief the coach and players on some additional instructions that must be followed in the match. Zamalek team is ready with its striking force in all positions, after the team's duo, Hazem Imam and Ahmed Sayed Zizou, are back in action after recovering from an injury and a coronavirus infection, respectively. Carteron will also continue to rely on international goalkeeper Mohamed Abu Gabal in the basic formation of Zamalek against Wydad at the expense of Mohamed Awwaad after the distinguished level that Abu Gabal displayed in the last match against Sagrada.
