Zamalek's defender Salah Soliman (Photo: Bassam Al-Zoghby)
Zamalek defender Salah Soliman has been ruled out of the squad for Sunday's clash with Ahly in the Champions League quarterfinal with a muscle injury.
"Salah Soliman has a muscle injury and needs at least three days of rest and one week of rehab,'' Zamalek's Dr Ayman Farid told the club's official website on Thursday.
Soliman's injury, and the suspension of defender Hany Said, limits the options of Zamalek's coach Hassan Shehata before the derby.
Zamalek's new signing Hamada Tolba, who joined the White Knights last Sunday, and team's international defender Mahmoud Fathallah are the only defenders in the squad.
Zamalek’s defence was highly criticised for the 3-2 loss at Ghana’s Chelsea in their opening Group B game in the Champions League earlier this month.
The Cairo club will face Ahly at the Military Academy Stadium behind closed doors due to lingering security concerns in Egypt.
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