CAIRO - Ismaili host arch-rivals Ahly on Sunday in the Egyptian Premier League, hoping to make progress in the local table. Titleholders Ahly, who have been suffering many injuries, are also eyeing all three points, hoping to go top of the league. The Red Devils' coach, Hossam el-Badri, could be given the sack if the team perform badly. Although the team haven't lost any league games this season, the fans and board are dissatisfied with the players and more so the coach. El-Badri must do his best to please the fans. Ahly will be missing injured left-back Sayyed Moawad, but Mohamed Nagui ‘Gedo' may play, despite picking up an ankle injury in Egypt's 3-0 victory over Australia last Wednesday. Moawad missed Ahly's previous two Egyptian Premier League games against Enppi and Gouna, but was due to take part in the big clash against Ismaili. "Moawad will miss the match due to a hamstring twinge," Ahly stated on their official website on Friday. "He was in too much pain to complete Thursday's training session. He tried to participate in team's session, but he couldn't." Moawad's absence will once again leave el-Badri with no option but to field natural right-back Sherif Abdel-Fadil on the left. The national team's doctor Ahmed Maged said Gedo faced at least seven days on the sidelines after injuring his ankle a few minutes after doubling Egypt's advantage over Australia in Wednesday's friendly. But, after undergoing scans, Gedo's injury has turned out to be less serious than first thought. "Gedo's ankle injury is minor. He has a good chance of playing against Ismaili," Ahly doctor Ehab Ali said. "His condition was very good.” Ahly are second in the league table with 18 points from eight games, while Ismaili have 13 points. Ismaili's coach Mark Wotte, meanwhile, has urged his players to show their mettle, as he too is under fire from disappointed fans. Wotte will depend mainly on goalie Mohamed Sobhi, Ahmed Samir Farag and Abdullah el-Saeed. In another league game on Sunday, Zamalek will be hosting El-Masri in Cairo. Zamalek have done little to quell doubts about Shikabala's commitment to the Egyptian national team after declaring that he'll be fit for Sunday's game. The in-form forward was ruled out of Egypt's midweek friendly against Australia after Zamalek said that he injured his back in the team's 3-2 league victory over Ismaili. Widespread reports suggested that he deliberately missed out on the game, despite Zamalek's insistence that he was not fit to play. Egypt's coach Hassan Shehata hit out at Shikabala and accused him of feigning injury for the second time in the space of two months. Zamalek are top of the league with 21 points, while El-Masri have 16 points.
