Preview: Coach Nabih out to show credentials as struggling Zamalek eye new era against Future FC

Mahmoud Elassal , Saturday 28 Jan 2023

Struggling Zamalek will face a tough test in the Egyptian Premier League when they host topflight Future FC on Sunday as the team searches for their first win in 2023.

Zamalek Forward Seifeddine Jaziri in action during the match between Zamalek and Ghazl El Mahalla on Tuesday 24 January, 2023. Photo courtesy of Ghazl El Mahalla Facebook page.

Under the helm of newly appointed coach Ossama Nabih, Zamalek are eager to return to their winning ways after failing to achieve a victory in their last five league games since the start of the new year.

“We want the team to return to their winning ways. I have confidence in the players’ ability to recover from the recent poor results. They are the same players who won the two league titles in the previous two seasons,” the newly appointed coach told Zamalek TV.

Zamalek’s poor run in the Egyptian Premier League forced the club’s management to sack Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira in a step to return to right track while competing to keep their hopes of winning this season’s title alive.

“It is a great chance for Zamalek to return to their winning ways against a big team like Future FC as our target is to regain our performance step by step,” Nabih, who previously served as an assistant coach for the Pharaohs in the 2018 World Cup, added.

The 48-year-old Nabih welcomed back key players left backs Ahmed Fatouh and Abdalla Gomaa who missed Zamalek’s previous games due to technical issues.

“The duo players returned to trainings and they are expected to be a positive push for the squad as they are talented players,” Nabih said.

“I will prepare Gomaa and Fatouh to take part in Future FC game or the coming game against Pharco FC especially after their absence from trainings,” the new Zamalek coach added.

Nabih will continue missing the services of Tunisian right-back Hamza Mathlouthi who is suffering from a muscle injury and skipper Mahmoud ‘Shikabala’ Abdel-Razek due to sickness.

The Egyptian Premier League title holders are now fifth in the league table with 26 points, 11 points behind leaders Ahly.

Future FC are placed second in the table with 31 points, one point over rivals Pyramids FC as the two sides fight to book a place in the prestigious CAF Champions League next season.

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