Zamalek coach: ‘I hope to beat Al Ahly, disappointed with Hossam Hassan’s decision’

Zamalek head coach Ahmed Abdelraouf confirmed that his team had been preparing for the Egyptian Super Cup with two main objectives — first, to reach the final, especially after facing a strong opponent like Pyramids in the semifinal, and second, to win the title itself.

Zamalek are set to face Al Ahly on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. GMT at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in the final of the Egyptian Super Cup.

During the pre-match press conference, Abdelraouf said:

“Nasser Maher has every right to be upset for not being called up to the national team. Personally, I am disappointed with Hossam Hassan’s decision not to include him — with all due respect to the coach. Nasser expressed his frustration in a respectful way. He has been one of the best players in Egypt over the last three matches, and I expect him to perform well in the final.”

He continued:

“I assure our fans that we are aware of the circumstances surrounding the team, and we managed them well against Pyramids. Now we are preparing to face a great team like Al Ahly in the final.”

The Egyptian coach added:

“The absence of any player in Zamalek is always influential. Every player in the squad is important to us. The available players are working hard, and we will check on the fitness of the injured players during the final training session.”

Abdelraouf also spoke about his admiration for the host country, saying:

“On a personal level, I love the UAE. Hosting the Super Cup here is a great thing. The organization is excellent, and everything is running with great discipline and order.”

He continued:

“It’s a great honor for me to lead Zamalek in my first Cairo Derby, and I hope to live up to expectations and win the Super Cup.”

Speaking about his left back, Abdelraouf said:

“Ahmed Fattouh is a talented player with great abilities. After his return to the national team, I expect a lot from him because I know what he is capable of — he still has much more to offer.”

He added:

“From a technical point of view, the Cairo Derby has its own historical significance, and there are many factors — match congestion, injuries, and other circumstances — that affect preparation. I’ve only been with the team for one week, and I want to thank the players for their discipline and sense of responsibility.”

Abdelraouf clarified:

“We did not change our playing style against Pyramids. Big clubs like Zamalek don’t change their identity. It’s difficult to alter your system from one match to another.”

He concluded by saying:

“Juan Bezzera will play if he is fit. We are reassured about his condition, and I assure Zamalek fans that we’ll make the final decision on the injured players today in training. The player always proves himself on the pitch. I respect all opinions, but we’ll play with Zamalek’s identity — the team is capable of winning and lifting the trophy.”

Zamalek will aim to secure the Super Cup under their new coach Abdel Raouf, who leads the team into his first-ever Cairo Derby — one of the biggest fixtures in African football.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.