The White Knights have endured a turbulent season, finishing third in the Egyptian League and missing out on a CAF Champions League spot for the third consecutive year.
They also failed to defend their Confederation Cup title, suffering a shock home defeat in the quarter-finals.
The Egypt Cup presents Zamalek with their only remaining opportunity to salvage what has otherwise been a dismal campaign.
However, their task will be far from easy. Pyramids are riding high after clinching their first-ever CAF Champions League title on Sunday, defeating South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.
The UAE-owned side are also the reigning Egypt Cup champions and are eyeing to keep the title.
Despite his tough mission, Zamalek interim coach Ayman El-Ramadi remains hopeful.
“We are a great team with a proud history. We will fight in the final to defend our chances of winning the Cup,” El-Ramadi told reporters on Tuesday.
“The final is always a tough match, but I am fully committed to the team. We respect Pyramids and what they’ve achieved.”
The 60-year-old, who took charge last month, hopes to leave a lasting impression by guiding the club to silverware.
He will rely on veteran playmaker Abdallah El-Saed and the expected strong support from fans to lift the team in the high-stakes clash.
El-Ramadi’s main concern remains the dip in form among several key players, whose performances have failed to meet expectations throughout the season.
Pyramids, by contrast, come into the match in top form but are battling fatigue.
Thursday’s final will be their fourth game in 13 days, including three decisive matches across competitions.
“The team has faced many difficult circumstances, but we want to cap this exceptional season with another title,” said Hany Saed, Pyramids FC's sporting director.
The club will be without Congolese striker Fiston Mayele, the top scorer in the CAF Champions League, who is unavailable due to international duty.
Former Zamalek striker Marwan Hamdi is expected to lead the line in his absence.
Both sides met in the Egypt Cup final in 2019 but Zamalek won 3-0 when they lift their 27 th Cup title.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: