Ahmed Sayed Zizo, the star of Al Ahly SC, insists on playing in the derby match scheduled for 8 PM today, Monday, at Cairo International Stadium, as part of the ninth round of the Nile League competition.

Zizo is trying to convince Emad El Nahhas, Al Ahly’s head coach, to accompany the team to Cairo Stadium.

Currently, consultations are taking place at Al Ahly’s camp headquarters in one of Cairo’s hotels regarding Zizo’s final status.

Zizo suffered a second-degree strain in his adductor muscle, and the technical staff granted him extra time to recover despite his return to training.

Football fans’ attention is directed at 8 PM today, Monday, towards Cairo International Stadium to follow the anticipated derby between Al Ahly and Zamalek in the ninth round of the Egyptian Premier League, a classic battle where the loser faces a tough path ahead.

The derby match attracts attention as it is the first between the two teams since last February, following Al Ahly’s withdrawal from the second-leg match last season in protest against the non-appointment of foreign referees for the Zamalek match on March 11.

Al Ahly enters the match under difficult circumstances after suffering a decline in results, which led the club management to dismiss Spanish coach Jose Ribeiro and appoint his former assistant, Emad El Nahhas, as interim coach to lead the team during this phase.

On the other hand, Zamalek is experiencing relatively stable conditions that helped them start the league differently under their Belgian coach Yannick Ferreira, currently leading the table with 17 points.