The White Knights failed to achieve victory in their last five games since the start of the new year, losing 2-1 to Aswan, drawing 1-1 with Dakhleya and drawing 0-0 with Ittihad of Alexandria before losing 3-0 to arch-rivals Ahly on Saturday.

They also lost 4-3 after penalty kicks to Pyramids FC in Egypt Cup semifinals last week.

Coach Jesualdo Ferreira will have to do without several key players including Tunisian right-back Hamza Mathlouthi, skipper Mahmoud "Shikabala" Abdel-Razek and left back Ahmed Fatouh.

The Egyptian Premier League title holders are currently fifth with 26 points, eight points behind leaders Ahly.

Meanwhile, Ghazl El-Mahalla lie in seventh place with 22 points after playing 14 games so far this season.

The Nile Delta team, who are dubbed Egypt's Argentina, are famed for making trouble at home for big-name visitors such as Ahly and Zamalek.

In a press conference shortly after the team's defeat to Ahly, Zamalek President Mortada Mansour said that the club’s board voted unanimously to dismiss the team’s Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira.

However, he offered a qualification, saying a final decision would be announced after the game against Pharco FC early next month.

The Zamalek chairman said that the team’s results in the upcoming three games would have no effect in the club’s decision concerning the coach's future.

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