Koller Relies on New Signings for Cairo Derby Against Zamalek
Khaled Hegazy
Dailysports's expert
Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller is banking on the club’s winter signings to secure victory against Zamalek in Saturday’s highly anticipated Egyptian Premier League clash at Cairo International Stadium.
The squad list includes Achraf Bencharki for the first time since joining Al Ahly following his contract termination with Al Rayyan. The Moroccan winger had been sidelined due to a muscle injury, missing recent matches, but is now fit to face his former club, Zamalek, where he played from 2019 to 2022.
Bencharki’s Role Uncertain
Koller has included Bencharki in the squad and is set to give him his first appearance, but it remains unclear whether he will start or come off the bench.
Key Absentees for the Derby
Six players are ruled out due to injury, including Yasser Ibrahim, Yahia Attiyat Allah, Mohamed Magdy “Afsha,” Taher Mohamed Taher, Karim Fouad, while Ali Maâloul and Omar Kamal Abdel-Wahed miss out due to lack of full fitness. Goalkeeper Mostafa Makhlouf has been omitted for technical reasons.
Al Ahly’s Squad for the Zamalek Clash
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, Hamza Alaa.
Defenders: Mohamed Hany, Akram Tawfik, Rami Rabia, Achraf Dari, Mostafa Al-Ash, Karim El-Debis.
Midfielders: Amr El-Sulya, Ahmed Reda, Marwan Attia, Omar El-Saai, Ahmed Nabil “Kouka,” Emam Ashour, Karim “Nedved,” Hussein El-Shahat, Mohamed Abdallah, Achraf Bencharki.
Forwards: Wissam Abou Ali, Nejck Gradišar.
Al Ahly enters the match second in the league with 32 points, trailing Zamalek by five points, making this a crucial encounter in the title race.
