Dunga’s Ban Shuts Down UAE Super Cup Hopes: What It Means for Zamalek and the Field

Donja Suspension Sets UAE Super Cup Stage

The Egyptian Football Association has ended the debate over Nabil Emad Ali "Dunga" Donja’s participation in the upcoming Egyptian Super Cup, which is to be staged in the United Arab Emirates next month.

In an official statement released today, the competition's organizing body confirmed that the Egyptian Football Association’s match committee has alerted the four participating clubs—Al Ahly, Zamalek, Pyramids FC, and Ceramica Cleopatra—about players who are suspended from the Super Cup, meaning they cannot take part in this edition.

The suspension list includes Donja, who receives a four‑match ban based on a report from the match observer of his side’s game against Pyramids in the most recent competition. The ban will apply to the UAE edition of the Super Cup, effectively ruling him out of the tournament.

With this decision, the federation puts an end to the controversy that had dominated discussions in the hours leading up to the event.

The controversy traces back to the incident in the last edition’s semi-final between Zamalek and Pyramids in which Donja, along with Mustafa Shalaby and Abdel Wahid Al‑Sayed, was involved in altercations with an event organizer and a security official inside the stadium. The affair also drew attention to the then team manager and other officials.

The matter even reached the judiciary and led to detentions in the UAE before a presidential pardon was announced. In October 2024, the federation’s media center stated that Donja and Shalaby would each be suspended for four matches, with the penalties to be served in the Super Cup.

Widespread Debate

There has been ongoing debate about the validity of the suspension, with some sources within the federation suggesting the decision was not formally finalized. Nevertheless, the public communications from the federation insist the punishment stands, and Donja will be absent from the UAE showpiece if the schedule proceeds as planned.

Zamalek are due to face their rival Pyramids in a likely semi-final on November 6 (sixth of November) in the UAE, which has amplified questions about Donja’s legal right to participate in the match.

Former federation official Mohammed Abu Al-Wafa claimed on television that no official ruling had been adopted in an official federation meeting and that no formal sanction had been issued. Meanwhile, an anonymous letter circulated claiming Donja had been banned, but there was no numbered proclamation or official document to back it up, sparking further controversy around the legality of his potential participation.

According to a federation source quoted to Koora, former competition committee head Amr Hussein allegedly informed the league director on a phone call about the punishment, which was then sent via email to a former Zamalek administrator. No formal letter to Zamalek confirming the suspension was found, and Zamalek publicly stated they were awaiting an official confirmation before making any lineup changes.

On the other hand, a source at Al Ahly indicated the club did not intervene in Donja’s potential suspension and would proceed with their own schedule, including a semi-final against Ceramica Cleopatra, with any cross‑club matchups to be discussed if they arise.

Earlier reports had noted that the semi-final is scheduled for November 6 in the UAE, followed by the final on November 9. The two semi-finalists and the third-place match will be decided on those dates, with the tournament bringing together the four clubs named above.

Bottom line

In short, the federation has clarified Donja cannot participate in the Super Cup in the UAE, and the competition will proceed with the remaining eligible players. The Super Cup final is set for November 9, and the two winners will meet to decide the title on the same day, while the losers will contest the third-place match.

Punchlines

Sniper joke 1: If bureaucracy scored goals, Donja would already have a golden boot—unfortunately, this is a ban, not a trophy room.

Sniper joke 2: The only thing sharper than a referee’s whistle is the federation’s ability to draft a 10-page ruling for a four-match punishment. Guess which one fans will remember longer?