In the Hot Seat, Yet He Delivers: Zamalek’s Interim Coach Seals a 3-1 Win Under Pressure
2 November 2025
Match recap
Ahmed Abdel-Raouf, Zamalek's interim head coach, expressed satisfaction after his team's 3-1 victory over El Geish in a high-stakes moment marking his first challenge in charge.
He stepped in after the club parted ways with the Belgian coach following a stretch of four winless matches that included three draws and one defeat. Abdel-Raouf stressed that the upcoming phase would be different and would require focused and bespoke preparation.
In the post-match discussion, he addressed technical, administrative, and personal elements, noting his deep allegiance to Zamalek as a fan first, while acknowledging that time was limited and more time would be needed to evaluate all players accurately.
The interim boss also thanked the rival team for the test and recognized the difficulty of the mission at hand, praising the players for rising to the challenge and proving their mettle under pressure.
Regarding the path ahead, Abdel-Raouf highlighted the time constraints and the difficulty of implementing a fully connected system in a short window, affirming that this is not a moment for regrets but for continued work and patience to reach a fuller vision.
He reiterated his personal club loyalty, saying that beyond his coaching title, he is a devoted Zamalek supporter who monitors everything closely, while underscoring the need for more time to assess each player accurately.
The coach also expressed gratitude to all club members who reached out in support during this transitional period, noting the fans' encouragement as a primary motivator to persevere.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Super Cup semifinal against Pyramids in the UAE, Abdel-Raouf emphasized that the match will be a different landscape with new motives and a distinct level of preparation, and that the squad would be prepared for the occasion.
He added that the team would field a lineup capable of handling the Super Cup, while keeping options available for the broader schedule and ensuring readiness for both ties.
Zamalek regains winning form
Zamalek rediscovered their winning edge in the Egyptian Premier League with a 3-1 victory over El Geish at Cairo’s stadium, marking the 13th round of the competition. Nasser Maher opened the scoring in the 5th minute and doubled the lead in the 49th, before Palestinian forward Adi Al-Dabagh completed the scoring in the 61st minute. El Geish managed a late consolation through Mohammed Atef in the 80th minute, narrowing the final margin.
This triumph came under the interim leadership of Abdel-Raouf, who steadied the ship after Ferrera’s departure four games earlier. The result propelled Zamalek to 22 points, temporarily placing them second, while El Geish sat on 10 points in 18th place under Hesham Shaaban’s guidance.
Numbers back the decision
Statistical review suggests that the decision to part ways with Ferrera was not merely sensitive to fan pressure but grounded in a technical assessment of underperformance. In Ferrera’s tenure, the team dropped 14 points that could have elevated them to the top of the league if several draws had converted to wins or if a single loss had been avoided. The report also pointed to difficulties integrating new signings and a lack of cohesion in the final third, indicating an absence of a clear, unified approach.
The final decision came after a decisive phone call from Vice-President Hesham Nasser to the Belgian coach, formally terminating the relationship while expressing appreciation for his tenure. The new chapter sees Zamalek moving forward under Abdel-Raouf, facing a challenging but hopeful path toward the looming Super Cup.
Punchline time: if time were a player, Abdel-Raouf would have bought it on discount and still made the plan work. And if patience were a tactics card, Zamalek would already be lifting the trophy before the whistle blows for the Super Cup.
