CAIRO, 20 October 2024: Al Ahly, led by Swiss coach Marcel Koller, will face Ceramica Cleopatra tonight at 8:00 PM (Cairo time) at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in the semifinal of the Egyptian Super Cup of Champions.
The tournament features four teams:
Al Ahly (Egyptian Premier League champions)Pyramids FC (Egypt Cup winners)Ceramica Cleopatra (League Cup winners)Zamalek (invited via a "Golden Card" by the organizing committee)
This is the eighth time the UAE has hosted the Egyptian Super Cup, with the first instance in 2015 and the most recent edition held in 2023. The tournament, which began in 2001, has been contested 21 times, with Al Ahly claiming 14 titles, the most of any club.
Al Ahly’s previous victories in the UAE include:
2015: 3-2 win over Zamalek2017: 1-0 win over Al Masry2021: 2-0 win over Zamalek2022: 1-0 win over Pyramids2023: 4-2 win over Modern Future
After losing the CAF Super Cup to Zamalek on penalties last month, Al Ahly hopes to lift this trophy to restore morale ahead of the new season. Marcel Koller warned his players against looking past Ceramica toward a potential final against Zamalek or Pyramids, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on tonight’s match.
Squad Overview
Al Ahly has named a 29-man squad for the tournament, including:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, Hamza Alaa, Mostafa MakhloufDefenders: Khaled Abdel-Fattah, Omar Kamal, Rami Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Ashraf Dari, Yehia Attiyat Allah, Karim Al-Dibis, Akram TawfikMidfielders: Marwan Attia, Imam Ashour, Amr El-Solia, Mohamed Magdy Afsha, Ahmed Nabil Kouka, Karim Nedved, Percy Tau, Hussein El-Shahat, Taher Mohamed TaherForwards: Mahmoud Kahraba, Sam Abou Ali, and emerging talents such as Mostafa Abou El-Kheir, Mohamed Abdullah, and Samir Mohamed
Despite a mostly fit squad, Al Ahly will miss three injured players: Ali Maaloul, Karim Fouad, and Mohamed Hany.
Ceramica Cleopatra's Challenge
Ceramica, making its second consecutive Super Cup appearance, is eager to claim its first win in the competition. The team narrowly missed out on a place in last year’s final, losing to Al Ahly in the dying minutes. In the third-place match, they drew 1-1 with Pyramids before falling 5-4 on penalties.
Head coach Ayman El-Ramadi is determined to break his losing streak against Al Ahly, having lost all four previous encounters with the Red Devils. He will rely on his key players and the momentum gained from winning the League Cup, Ceramica’s only major title.
The clash will be a battle between two distinct coaching styles:
Marcel Koller represents the Swiss school, having led Al Ahly to nine titles in two seasons, including two Egyptian League titles, two CAF Champions League titles, and multiple domestic trophies.Ayman El-Ramadi represents the national school of coaching, having built a strong Ceramica team that aims to make an impact on the tournament.
If Al Ahly advances, they will face the winner of the Pyramids vs. Zamalek semifinal in the final on Thursday, October 24.
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