CAIRO: Ibrahim Ayew might play his first game with Zamalek since the African Cup of Nations after being included in their squad for Monday’s Egyptian Premier League match at Ghazl Mahalla.
The Ghanaian out-of-favor midfielder has been snubbed by Zamalek coach Hossam Hassan since helping his country finish runners-up to champions Egypt in January’s Nations Cup finals in Angola.
He is desperate to play first-team football with the Cairo giants to safeguard his chances of being part of Ghana’s World Cup squad in South Africa.
Ayew could have a chance to start Zamalek’s game away to Mahalla due to the absence of Ibrahim Salah and Hassan Mostafa.
Salah and Mostafa are Hassan’s preferred choices in the heart of the team’s midfield but they will not be available against Mahalla due to automatic suspension.
Ivorian attacking midfielder Remi Adiko, who has hardly featured for Zamalek since joining last summer, was also named in their squad.
Second-placed Zamalek will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games at the expense of Mahalla, who usually prove to be stubborn opponents for the White Knights.
Their last two meetings ended in victories for Mahalla, who lie 12th in the league table, just three points above the relegation zone.
Zamalek are six points behind leaders and arch-rivals Ahly, who have a game in hand.
Zamalek squad:
Goalkeepers: Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed, Mohamed Abdul-Monsef
Defenders: Amr Al-Safti, Mahmoud Fathallah, Ahmed Magdi, Hani Saied, Amr Adel, Ahmed Ghanem, Omar Gaber, Mohamed Abdul-Shafi, Sabri Rahil
Midfielders: Hossam Arafat, Mohamed Ibrahim, Shikabala, Alaa Ali, Hussein Yasser, Ibrahim Ayew, Ahmed Abdul-Raouf, Remi Adiko
Strikers: Ahmed Gaafar, Sherif Ashraf
