Tension and anxiety hang over the Al-Ahly Clasico and Zamalek
Tension and anxiety hang over the two Egyptian football poles at the 122nd summit between the two traditional rivals Al-Ahly and Zamalek on Monday at Cairo International Stadium in the twenty-first stage, after the local association insisted on appointing an Egyptian refereeing team to manage the El Clasico.
The tripartite committee in charge of managing the Football Association appointed a local arbitration team to lead the El Clasico similar to the first-leg match, despite the refusal of the two clubs after arbitration errors that caused widespread controversy during the past matches, in addition to the fluctuation in the level, offers and results in the matches that the two teams played after the summit of the first round which It was held April 18th and ended with Al-Ahly winning 2-1.
Al-Ahly wasted eight points in 6 games they played since the victory in El Clásico, where they lost against Smouha, Ghazl El Mahalla, and tied with El Gouna, while rival Zamalek lost 4 points in 5 games by tying with the Arab Contractors and Pyramids.
Siham was criticized by the media and the masses at Al-Ahly's South African coaches, Pitso Musimane, and the French Zamalek, Patrice Carteron, and voices rose to demand their dismissal from their posts.
Zamalek will play the next match, the top of the table with 44 points from 20 games, 4 points behind Al-Ahly, the runner-up, who played only 18 games.
The technical staff and Zamalek players are seeking to avenge two losses against Al-Ahly with one score 1-2 in the African Champions League final last year and the first round of the league, in their endeavor to move away in the lead after focusing on winning the local title after the early exit from the group stage of the prestigious continental competition.
On the other hand, Musimani and Al-Ahly players are trying to confirm the knot, achieve the third successive victory over Zamalek, and reduce the difference of points that separate them, hoping to lead and retain the title for the sixth season in a row.
Al-Ahly regained the tone of victories after two defeats and tied in the last stage by defeating Al-Ittihad of Alexandria 2-1, and his coach Musimani complained about the pressure of matches and his players were subjected to stress and injuries due to the team's participation in the Champions League, the local league and the Egypt Cup.
Al-Ahly recently played a match every 72 hours, and next Saturday they will face a difficult match against South African champion Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the African Champions League quarter-finals.
While Al-Ahly suffers from the absence of its most important members, the Nigerian Junior Ajay and Tunisian Ali Maaloul and Hamdi Fathi due to injury and Nasser Maher due to technical reasons. The first leg due to infection with the Corona virus.
On the other hand, Zamalek trio, Abdullah Jumah, for foot injury, and goalkeeper Mahmoud Abu Jabal for infection with the Corona virus, and Imam Ashour for suspension, will be absent from Zamalek, while the club has restored the services of left back Mohamed Abdel Shafi after an absence of a shoulder injury.
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