Ahly defeated Zamalek 2-0 in their last Egyptian Premier League game in December (Ahram)
Rival fans who cheered on Egypt side by side in an impressive African Nations Cup campaign that ended in disappointment will be on opposing sides when Cairo duo Ahly and Zamalek lock horns in the domestic Super Cup on Friday.
It will be business as usual after a period of euphoria over Egypt's unexpected progress to the Nations Cup final in Gabon, where they threw away their lead to suffer a painful 2-1 defeat by Cameroon in the final last Sunday.
Despite the loss, Egypt's players and coach Hector Cuper were mostly praised by fans and media alike, given a series of solid defensive displays which proved highly efficient.
The Cairo giants meet almost five weeks after Ahly outplayed Zamalek in a 2-0 Egyptian Premier League win just before a lengthy break due to Egypt's Nations Cup participation.
League leaders Ahly extended the gap over Zamalek to 11 points, although the latter still have two games in hand and will be looking to avenge that loss in Friday's Super Cup, which takes place in the United Arab Emirates for the second time in less than two years.
Ahly, the record Super Cup winners with nine titles to Zamalek's two, came from behind to earn a 3-2 victory in an exciting clash at Al Ain's Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in October 2015.
Zamalek, who last won the title in 2002, lost to Ahly in three other Super Cup games.
"We have the best players in Egypt and we can defeat anyone," Zamalek's main striker Bassem Morsi, who was snubbed by Cuper for the Pharaohs' Nations Cup campaign after reportedly falling out with the Argentinean coach, said in a television interview.
"It will be a tough game between Egypt's biggest clubs, but we are determined to win."
There were reports both sides could rest some of their key players who are worn out after an exhausting Nations Cup campaign in Gabon but Ahly and Zamalek coaches said they would be available for the match, which was originally scheduled to be a season curtain-raiser before being postponed.
Zamalek could hand a debut to experienced striker Hossam Salama 'Paolo', the Egyptian league top scorer for the past two seasons who joined the club from Alexandria-based side Smouha.
Ahly also have two new arrivals available in Ivorian striker Souleymane Coulibaly and midfielder Amr Barakat.
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