An epic clash between Al Ahly and Zamalek, Egypt’s two biggest football clubs, will decide the winner of the CAF Super Cup 2024 tonight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With kick-off at the Kingdom Arena Stadium at 1800 GMT, the match promises to be a thrilling showdown between these long-time rivals, who are both vying to start their seasons with a major trophy.
Ahly
Al Ahly, the reigning CAF Champions League winners, have firmly established themselves as the dominant force in African club football.
Under the guidance of coach Marcel Koller, the “Red Devils” secured their fourth consecutive CAF Champions League title earlier this year, adding to their already impressive haul of 44 Egyptian league championships.
Despite a relatively quiet transfer window, Ahly strengthened their squad with the signings of Moroccan World Cup semifinalist Yahia Attiyat Allah and center-back Achraf Dari from Brest.
Koller, however, remains focused on the immediate task at hand.
“Winning the title will mean a lot to us and give us a big push for the upcoming season,” Koller said in his pre-match press conference.
“There’s no difference between local and international games. We’re excited to face Zamalek and will give our best to secure the trophy.”
Zamalek
Zamalek, known as the “White Knights,” have faced a tougher path recently.
Despite a third-place finish in the Egyptian Premier League last season, trailing second place by a significant 17 points, they managed to capture the CAF Confederation Cup, demonstrating their resilience and determination.
The summer saw them rejuvenate their squad with seven new signings, including promising young Palestinian striker Omar Faraj from AIK in Sweden. Coach Jose Gomes is confident that his team’s current form and spirit will carry them through.
“The match will be tough for both teams,” Gomes acknowledged.
“Even the players on the bench will play a decisive role. Winning this title will boost the players’ confidence and set the stage for future success.”
Statistics
In their previous African encounters, Al Ahly have largely had the upper hand, winning six out of ten matches, with Zamalek securing just one victory.
Notably, Zamalek’s lone win came in the 1994 Super Cup, while Ahly clinched a memorable 2-1 victory in the 2020 CAF Champions League final.
The “Red Devils” have scored 17 goals to Zamalek’s 10 in these fixtures, underscoring their attacking prowess.
With the stakes high and a sold-out Arena Stadium brimming with Egyptian and Arab fans, tonight’s match promises to be an electrifying affair.
Both teams will be eager to claim bragging rights and add another prestigious trophy to their collections.
Al Ahly will be looking to extend their dominance with a ninth Super Cup title, while Zamalek hope to clinch their fifth.
The Players
Emam Ashour of Al Ahly: “Of course, these matches are always intense, and this will be even tougher due to us playing our rivals, but we cannot let that distract us from our preparations. We need to play the occasion and not so much the opponent.
“I took part in the last edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup, which was my first experience in this competition.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t get this title, because it wasn’t Al Ahly’s turn. Currently, our entire team is focused on winning against Zamalek which would be even more memorable for me in my football career.”
Ahmed Zizo of Zamalek: “Not only is this one of the most important trophies to win in Africa, but it involves two arch-rivals that have a rich history in African football.
“We want to deliver a high-quality match that shines a spotlight on Egyptian football. Portuguese coach José Gomes and his staff are working hard with us to prepare for this challenge.
“It will require a lot of mental toughness. We can prepare well tactically but mental toughness will be key in such a match.
