Ahmed Belal, former Al Ahly star, believes it is difficult to predict the outcome of the summit match between Al Ahly and Zamalek amid great anxiety among the fans of both teams, especially Al Ahly supporters.

Al Ahly is preparing to face Zamalek tomorrow evening at 8 PM at Cairo International Stadium, as part of the ninth round of the Egyptian Premier League.

The former Al Ahly star emphasized that the spirit of the Red jersey is present in tough matches, while Zamalek relies heavily on this match to maintain their lead amid recent crises affecting the club.

Ahmed Belal said in a televised statement on Al-Nahar channel: “Al Ahly has financial stability and stars, yet the performance has been weak and below expectations so far. If Zamalek wins, things will definitely be great despite some crises, and there is a state of euphoria and technical stability in the white team despite financial problems.”

He added: “Is Zamalek reaping the fruits of John Edward’s sessions with the players to motivate them? Also, is there a role for Mamdouh Abbas who allocated large bonuses for the players? On the other hand, Emad El Nahhas is certainly in a difficult position due to the decline in performance and level not meeting the fans’ ambitions. Will El Nahhas get a new birth certificate in the Cairo Derby?”

He continued: “In the past, there were expectations for the results of the summit matches, and before the 2002 match between the two giants, predictions favored Zamalek, but Al Ahly won 6-1 in the famous match. Also, Zamalek won the African Super Cup despite not being the best at the time, delivering a great performance and winning the title on penalties.”

He concluded: “Al Ahly’s loss means the current generation may face a crisis in the coming period, and Zamalek under Ferreira is stable technically, with a stable lineup, but no one guarantees victory.”