Bragging rights up for grabs in CAF Super Cup final
Yesterday at 05:00 AM
Egyptian football will once again take centre stage in the keenly anticipated CAF Super Cup final when Al Ahly and Zamalek lock horns at the Kingdom Arena on Friday night. Kick-off is at 8:00pm CAT.
Al Ahly, who bagged their 4th CAF Champions League title in succession earlier this year, will hope to clinch their 9th CAF Super Cup accolade this week. As for the reigning CAF Confederations Cup champions, Zamalek are delicately poised to bag their 5th Super Cup title.
Reflecting on the task at hand, Al Ahly mentor Marcel Koller revealed that his side has 'several' motivations to win the CAF Super Cup trophy.
"The Super Cup will be played as a single match, and it is crucial for us to win it," Koller mentioned.
"We have several motivations at the start of the season to claim this title. There is no difference between playing against Zamalek on a national or African stage, as they are a prestigious team and a formidable opponent."
"We always aim for victory and strive to deliver the best performance possible. I am thrilled to see the stadium filled with fans, all eager to witness an intense match against a strong opponent."
Speaking ahead of the game, Zamalek attacking midfielder Ahmed Mostafa Sayed expressed that the Egyptian giants are focused on making their adoring fan base proud on Friday night.
"Not only is this one of the most important trophies to win in Africa, but it involves two arch-rivals that have a rich history in African football," Zizo said.
"We want to deliver a high-quality match that shines a spotlight on Egyptian football. Portuguese coach José Gomes and his staff are working hard with us to prepare for this challenge. It will require a lot of mental toughness. We can prepare well tactically but mental toughness will be key in such a match.
"The most important thing will be to stay fully focused and take advantage of every opportunity. Our ambition is to win this cup, especially since Zamalek can count on the support of its many fans in the Gulf, who will be there to cheer us on. Our goal is to make them proud."
