Ahly Midfielder Emam Ashour in control of the ball during the match against Zed. Photo courtesy of Al-Ahly.
Ahly were held to a 1-1 draw by ZED FC on Saturday, dropping two precious points in the title race.
They sit third in the table on 37 points, three behind leaders Zamalek, and cannot afford further slip-ups if they are to keep their hopes alive.
The draw sparked anger among supporters, with coach Jess Thorup and his players coming under fire.
The Danish coach has been criticized for failing to shore up a backline that has conceded 16 goals in 18 matches.
He has also faced scrutiny over the team’s lack of cutting edge in attack, saying after the ZED draw that he could not believe his side had managed only one goal despite creating several clear chances.
Thorup must now find a solution to his side’s struggles in breaking down compact defenses, with Arab Contractors likely to adopt a cautious approach as they battle to avoid relegation.
Wingers Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan and Ahmed “Zizo” Hassan, who returned from muscle injuries as second-half substitutes on Saturday, are expected to start.
Thorup will hope the pair can provide the spark his side has been missing.
Trezeguet was one of the few players to escape criticism against ZED, scoring the equalizer with an energetic cameo off the bench.
Arab Contractors coach Sami Komsan, a long-serving former assistant at Ahly, will aim to use his knowledge of the club to secure a positive result.
He will also draw inspiration from Mohamed Shawky’s recent success with ZED, another former Ahly staff member who managed to frustrate the Cairo giants.
Arab Contractors are 16th in the standings with 18 points, two clear of the relegation zone, and are desperate for points to ease their survival concerns.
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