Zamalek was dealt a significant blow as international defender Mahmoud “El-Wensh” Hamdi has tested positive for Coronavirus four days before the highly anticipated African Champions League final against Ahly on Friday.

"El Wensh has tested positive today for the Coronavirus. He is in isolation now and will undergo another swab in the next few days," board member Ahmed Mortada Mansour told a radio program on Monday.

The 25-year-old versatile defender has established himself as a key element in Zamalek's defence, recently earning a place in Egypt's squad during their last African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo earlier this month.

He was the Pharaohs’ hero, scoring the only goal of the game against the visitors to give Egypt their first win of the qualifiers.

Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny, and Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan from the national team also reported positive while in Egypt.

He is set to be replaced by Mahmoud Abdel-Ghani to pair with Mahmoud Alaa in central defence.

El-Wensh is Zamalek's third player to be infected recently, following Hazem Emam and Mohamed Hassan who have fully recovered.

Zamalek will clash with arch-rivals Ahly on Friday at Cairo stadium in what has been called the "final of the century" in a first ever all Egyptian African Champions League final. It is the first time that two teams from the same country reach that stage since the competition was inaugurated in 1964.

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