Injury shadows Zamalek's win as Super Cup looms
Zamalek sealed a 3-1 victory over Talaea El Geish at Cairo Stadium in round 13 of the Egyptian Premier League, but celebrations were tempered by three injuries that may affect their Super Cup plans.
The win, achieved under interim coach Ahmed Abd al-Raouf, snapped a four-match winless run (three draws and a defeat under Ferreira) and revived hopes of a steady league push.
Before the upcoming Super Cup semifinal against Pyramids, three players were ruled potentially serious: Brazilian Juan Bezera, goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi, and Ahmed Fattouh. Bezera’s misfortune came in the 25th minute when he suffered a sudden muscular problem, left the pitch in tears, and was replaced by Adi Debagh.
Initial medical assessments suggested a possible hamstring tear, with scans planned in the hours ahead to confirm the diagnosis. If confirmed, Bezera would miss the UAE Super Cup and face a long rehabilitation, a heavy blow to the new plan under Abd al-Raouf.
Medical updates also indicated Sobhi felt muscular fatigue and Fattouh endured a head collision; both were stable, with Mehdi Suleiman coming on as a substitute for Sobhi.
Ferreira era ends as board charts new course
The match rekindled discussion about Zamalek’s recent coaching era. Data showed Ferreira’s 57.6% win rate, the lowest among three foreign coaches to lead the club in recent years: Ferreira, Gross, and Peseiro. Ferreira lasted 119 days—the longest among the trio—but the team often lacked a clear attacking identity and tactical flexibility.
Across 11 league games, Ferreira collected 19 points from 33, dropping 14, and scoring 15 goals—the same as Gross but with less decisive impact in big matches. The board cited difficulty converting draws into wins and integrating new signings as key factors in terminating Ferreira’s contract.
Following a decisive phone call from Vice President Hisham Nasr, the club announced Ferreira’s contract termination. Ahmed Abd al-Raouf takes charge as Zamalek pivots toward a fresh start ahead of the Super Cup against Pyramids in the UAE.
The team now enters a new phase under Abd al-Raouf, aiming to regain balance in the league while protecting key players from further injuries.
Three goals in the match came from Nasser Maher in the 5th minute, a second from Maher in the 49th, and a third from Adi Debagh in the 61st, while Mohamed Atef scored for Talaea Al-Geish in the 80th. Zamalek rose to 22 points, temporarily second, while Talaea Al-Geish stood on 10 points in 18th place.
With Ferreira out, Zamalek hopes to navigate a challenging run of fixtures under a renewed leadership and a sharpened focus on returning to the top of the table.
Sniper punchline 1: If goals were precision, Zamalek’s shots lately would need a better sight and maybe a coach with a map to the net.
Sniper punchline 2: I told my jokes to the physio—turns out they heal faster when the punchlines actually hit the target.
