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Al-Ahram Weekly
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Preview: Ahly seek to maintain winning rhythm against Masry in tough league clash - Egyptian Football
Defending champions Ahly will be desperate for a win on Thursday when they face Masry in a league game at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium, as the Red Devils cannot afford to drop any points in their tight title race with Pyramids FC Ahly currently sit second in the table with 46 points, just one point behind leaders Pyramids FC, who handed the Red Devils a boost by losing to Pharco FC on Sunday. Pyramids FC will also face a tough challenge on Friday when they visit Ceramica Cleopatra. Ahly will be without the support of their fans, after the competitions committee sanctioned the club to play two matches behind closed doors—a significant blow during this crucial period of the season. Nevertheless, Ahly capitalized on Pyramids' stumble by routing Harras El-Hodoud 5–0, narrowing the gap to just one point. The match featured a strong performance from the team under interim coach Emad El-Nahass, who took over from Swiss manager Marcel Koller last month. El-Nahass's debut was far from easy, as Ahly edged Petrojet 3–2 in a thrilling encounter before the dominant victory over Harras El-Hodoud. However, Masry present a tougher challenge than Ahly's previous two opponents. Even without their Algerian star Abderrahim Deghmoum, the Port Said-based team remains strong with players like Mahmoud Hamada, Salah Mohsen, and Mido Gaber. 'Our target is to maintain our winning rhythm in this difficult league campaign,' Ahly interim coach Emad El-Nahass told reporters. El-Nahass has a full squad available, with the exception of veteran defender Rami Rabia, who is likely to miss the game due to an injury sustained in the win over Harras El-Hodoud. On the other side, Masry are led by Tunisian coach Anis Boujelbene, a former Ahly midfielder during the early 2000s. Masry have already held both Pyramids FC and Zamalek to goalless draws in the playoffs and are hoping to secure another positive result against another title contender. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Masry edge Simba 2-0 to move closer to CAF Confederation Cup semis - Egyptian Football
Egyptian side Masry defeated Tanzania's Simba 2-0 in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals at New Suez Stadium on Wednesday, moving a step closer to securing a spot in the semifinals. Algerian midfielder Abderrahim Deghmoum opened the scoring for Masry in the 16th minute, while second-half substitute John Ebuka sealed the victory with a late strike confirmed by VAR after initial offside confusion. The Port Said-based side pushed forward from the start of the game, seeking for an early opener but they failed to create clear-cut scoring opportunities. However, the breakthrough came a minute after the quarter-hour mark, when Deghmoum received a cross from midfielder Youssef El-Gohary outside the area, unleashing a powerful left-footed shot to the bottom right corner. After the goal, the visitors abandoned their tight and solid defensive approach and pushed forward, seeking to level the score. They waged numerous attempts on Masry's goal, but the Port Said-based side's resolute defense blocked all their opportunities. The Tunisian tactician Anis Boujelbene reshuffled his midfield midway through the second half, introducing Karim Bambo and Beninese midfielder Samadou Attidjikou for Fakhredine Ben Youssef and Deghmoum. The changes nearly paid dividends when Salah Mohsen's 73rd-minute strike from Bambo's pass narrowly whistled wide. Simba's Leonel Ateba forced a crucial save from goalkeeper Mahmoud Gad minutes later, the Cameroonian connecting cleanly with Kibu Denis' cross only for Gad to palm the close-range effort away. The keeper shone again in the dying moments with multiple saves to keep Simba at bay. Ebuka finally killed off Simba's hopes deep into stoppage time, slotting home a goal initially ruled offside before VAR overturned the decision, sparking jubilation among the home fans. Masry will aim to defend their advantage in the return leg at Simba's fortress in Dar es Salaam on 9 April, with the aggregate winner faces either Zamalek or South Africa's Stellenbosch in the semifinals. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ali Maher succeeds El Ramadi as Ceramica Cleopatra coach - Egyptian Football
Masry's departing coach Ali Maher has been appointed as Ceramica Cleopatra new coach to succeed Ayman El Ramadi whose contract was ended amicably earlier on Monday. After a series of poor results, Ceramica Cleopatra announced early today that it was parting ways with the 59-year-old El Ramadi by mutual consent. Then, it announced that it had hired Maher as their new coach. 'The club board decided to appoint Maher as the team's new coach in an important step to enhance the performance and achieving goals of next term,' the club said in a statement. Ceramica Cleopatra didn't secure a single win in the last five league games, losing three and drawing in two. The dismissal of El Ramadi comes 48 hours after Saturday's 2-0 league loss to Gouna. El Ramadi, who took charge in July 2023, has guided the team through 60 matches, securing 23 wins and 17 draws and losing the remaining 29 games. His prominent achievement with the team was guiding them to win the Egyptian League Cup title twice in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons. The team currently lie seventh in the Egyptian Premier League table with 21 points from 15 games, 15 points behind leaders Pyramids FC. Quick appointment Maher's appointment comes hours after the Port Said-based Masry announced his departure following the team's recent struggles. Masry has recently dropped in form, winning only one of the last five games. However, it remains fifth in the Egyptian Premier League standings with 24 points, nine behind joint leaders Pyramids FC and Ahly. Their latest setback was a scoreless draw against relegation-threatened Ismaily on Saturday. The 51-year-old former Ahly player Maher took over Masry in 2023 for a second stint and propelled the team into the top four, their best position in five years. Maher, who announced his retirement as a player in 2004, was a coach for several Egyptian premier league clubs, including Al Assiouty, Smouha, Enppi, Masry and Future FC. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Masry part ways with coach Ali Maher - Egyptian Football
Port Said-based Masry announced on Sunday the departure of coach Ali Maher following the team's recent struggles. 'Thank you Ali Maher for all what you have done with the Green Eagles. All the best in the future,' the club said in a brief message on their social media accounts. The team has suffered a recent dip in form, winning only one of their past five games. However, they remain fifth in the Egyptian Premier League standings with 24 points, nine behind joint leaders Pyramids FC and Ahly. Their latest setback was a scoreless draw against relegation-threatened Ismaily on Saturday. The 51-year-old tactician took over Masry in 2023 and propelled the team into the top four, their best position in five years. Masry will play Smouha on Thursday in a league game and begin their Confederation Cup quarter-final campaign against Simba of Tanzania on 2 April. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
