The big-spending Pyramids FC had earlier requested a foreign referee for the game. EFA regulations allow every club to ask for a foreign official on condition that they cover all expenses.

The 41-year-old Marciniak will also be joined by Polish assistants, the EFA confirmed.

The visit to Cairo is not the first for the famous referee as he took charge of the Egypt Cup final between Ahly and Zamalek in July last year, which Zamalek won 2-1.

The Ahly-Pyramids games have been largely tense since the latter club was bought by Saudi Arabia's Turki Al-Sheikh in 2018.

Al-Sheikh, who was then the head of Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority, used to be an honorary chairman of Ahly before falling out with the club's board over its transfers policy.

He invested heavily in Pyramids but sold the club to Emirati investor Salem Al-Shamsi in 2019.

Ahly are second in the league table with 24 points from ten games, on level with leaders Zamalek, who have a better goal difference.

Pyramids FC lie fourth with 20 points.

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