Zamalek can finally get some breathing space after a period of administrative instability, having secured the future of a couple of key players as they continue their bid towards a first Egyptian Premier League crown in six years.

The Cairo giants meet Maqassa on Monday, a few days after the club's interim board of directors extended the deals of influential defender Mahmoud El-Wensh and in-form winger Ahmed Zizo.

They also said they had opened talks with their top scorer Achraf Bencharki to prolong his stay.

The Moroccan's current deal expires at the end of next season but Zamalek are keen to avoid the kind of delay that is likely to see Tunisian midfielder Ferjani Sassi depart for free this summer as they failed to agree a new deal with another of their key players.

Cash problems have blighted Zamalek lately, with the club also involved in legal battles with some of their former players and coaches over compensation packages.

However, the White Knights are still hoping they can deliver their first league triumph since they won the last of their 12 titles in 2015.  

League leaders Zamalek will be looking to beat seventh-placed Maqassa for the second time in six days, having eased past them 2-0 in the Egypt Cup quarter-final last week.

Zamalek will miss experienced right-back Hazem Emam and diminutive left-back Abdallah Gomaa due to injuries.

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