egypt football - NEWS

Egypt to open investigation into Senegal friendly cancellation

Assistant minister of youth and sports, Ashraf Sobhi, said on Thursday that an investigation would be opened into the cancellation of Egypt's friendly against Senegal on Thursday, insisting that those responsible would be punished.

"Sports Minister Khaled Abdel-Aziz expressed his displeasure over the matter and he ordered to open an investigation to determine those responsible for this crisis," Sobhi told Ahram Sports on Thursday.

"The matter is not acceptable and those responsible will be punished," he concluded.  

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) called off Thursday's friendly game against Senegal after finding out that the opponents would not field their senior side.

Egypt were scheduled to face Senegal on Thursday before meeting Zambia on Sunday as part of a training camp in the United Arab Emirates.

Senegal had announced a squad for the Egypt game that includes U-23 players. Their senior side will face Algeria in a friendly on Tuesday.

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Ahly’s new defenders Hegazy, Rabia eligible to play against Zamalek in Egypt Super Cup

Ahly’s backline was singled out as being the reason behind their elimination from the Confederation Cup and their Egypt Cup loss

Ahly defensive duo Ahmed Hegazy and Rami Rabia are eligible to play against Zamalek in the Egyptian Super Cup set to be played in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday after the club finally registered them in their squad for next season.

International defenders Hegazy and Rabia joined Ahly last month but the club failed to register them in his squad due to its closed list.

Ahly signed Rabia from Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, while Hegazy, who terminated his contract with Italian side Fiorentina, joined Ahly on a free transfer.  

The Cairo giants officially terminated the contracts of defender Sherif Abdel-Fadil and forward Mohamed 'Gedo' Nagy to be able to include the new signings in the squad.

Following the recruitment of the international defenders, Ahly decided to loan Abdel-Fadil and Gedo to make room for the new-signings but the two players -- who had renewed their contract with the club this summer -- declined the move until they received their installments.

Ahly deposited LE5 million at the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) to pay the dues of the two players before terminating their new contract with the club.

After winning no titles this season, the Cairo giants were looking to strengthen their squad, especially their backline that has been accused of being the source of the team's recent elimination from the Confederation Cup semis and their Egypt Cup loss.

Ahly have sacked coach Fathi Mabrouk from his post and the club are yet to reveal the name of the new coach.

Al Ahly reject the return of Manuel Jose

Al Ahly board have rejected the return of Portuguese coach Manuel Jose for a fourth spell with the Red Devils.
According to several news reports, the former Al Ahly coach was one of the potential candidates for the head coach position at the Red Castle. Al Ahly board, however, put an end to these rumors on Wednesday, denying the return of the legendary coach.

“The board rejected the return of Manuel Jose to Al Ahly,” Al Ahly board member Taher El-Sheikh declared.

The Red Devils are currently looking for a foreign coach to take over the team, meanwhile, Abdel-Aziz Abdel-Shafy ‘Zizo’ serves as a caretaker, following the sacking of Fathi Mabrouk.

Many of Al Ahly fans called for the return of the 69-year-old coach, who led the Red Devils during their golden era and won a handful of titles on the domestic and African level.

“Jose’s name was completely excluded from the list of candidates to coach Al Ahly,” the former Al Ahly player said.

“Jose didn’t work for the past four years, also his old age was put into consideration,” he explained.

The board members were expected to announce the name of the new coach following Wednesday’s meeting, however, they ended up only announcing the appointment of Adli El Keiy as spokesperson.

“We haven’t decided on the name of the foreign coach yet, there are names that we are discussing,” El-Sheikh said.

“The new coach might be Spanish or Portuguese but we won’t reveal the names now,” he concluded.

Official: Al Ahly name Adli El Keiy as spokesman

Al Ahly have officially announced the appointment of Adli El Keiy to the position of the club’s spokesperson.
The appointment of El Keiy is one of several decisions taken by the Red Devils’ board, who are attempting to make amends after a string of poor results this season.

Al Ahly announced El Keiy would be the new voice of the club following a board’s meeting where the club’s officials were expected to agree on the team’s new foreign coach.

Earlier last month, El Keiy declared he was offered a position at Al Ahly, however, the club’s official announcement didn’t come until Thursday.

El Keiy has a long history with Al Ahly as he has been hailed for making exceptional deals and signings for the Reds in the past when he worked as the club’s marketing director.

He has previously criticized the Red Castle’s former marketing director for failing to promote Al Ahly’s signings. He also asserted that as a spokesman, he would set standards for being more transparent and professional when communicating with the media.

Roger de Sa admits he held talks with Al Ahly, Zamalek in the past

Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa has revealed that there were talks between him and Egyptians giants Al Ahly and Zamalek.

There was speculation early this year linking De Sa with a move up north and he denied the speculation at the time.

But speaking during a DiskiNite event in Gugulethu outside Cape Town last night, the 51-year-old admitted that both clubs approached him for a coaching role.

The MTN8-winning coach says he was very flattered with the offers but turned them down because he wants to stay with the Cape side for as long as he can.

“I had talks with Zamalek and Al Ahly in the past. It's very flattering to know that those teams made enquires but I said thanks but no thanks,” De Sa said.

“I made it clear I’d like to stay here in Cape Town for as long as I can with the club.”

Mozambique-born De Sa is well known on the African continent after guiding his former club Orlando Pirates to the final of the CAF Champions League in 2013, when Bucs lost 3-1 on aggregate to Al Ahly.

Al Ahly are currently without a coach following their CAF Confederation Cup exit at the hands of Pirates.

De Sa is expected to meet with Urban Warriors management regarding a contract extension as his current deal is set to expire at the end of the season.