CAIRO: Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere was chosen to officiate Thursday s Cairo derby between Ahly and Zamalek, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced. The 43-year-old will be assisted by fellow countrymen Peter Hermans and Alex Verstraeten, EFA said on its official website. De Bleeckere has refereed many high-profile games since becoming an international referee …

CAIRO: Ittihad left-back Mahmoud Shaker Abdel-Fattah said that he will only extend his contract with the club if board officials approve his demands. The 30-year-old’s contract expires in May, and he confirmed his desire to be financially equaled with first category players at the club in order to pen a new deal. My performances this …

WIGAN: Amr Zaki is set to return to the Wigan line-up for Sunday s Premier League clash with Blackburn after manager Steve Bruce drew a line under his recent spat with the Egypt striker. Zaki was branded the most unprofessional player I ve ever worked with by Bruce and was fined by the club after …

CAIRO: Zamalek ace Mahmoud “Shikabala Abdel-Razeq and goalkeeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed were named in the squad scheduled to face Ahly in the Cairo derby on Thursday. Shikabala was left out of last week s win over Petrojet as he had to deal with a personal problem, according to Zamalek s official site. But the 23-year-old is …

CAIRO: Ahly striker Hussein Yasser has been ruled out for the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder in training on Tuesday, the Red Devils said. The Qatari collided with Flavio Amado in a match practice ahead of Thursday s Cairo derby with Zamalek. Ahly confirmed that the 27-year-old will be out for up …

CAIRO: Ahly midfielder Ahmed Hassan took part in the team s Monday training after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of the Kano Pillars first-leg. The Egyptian international joined his teammates in a light training on Monday following their arrival from the CAF Champions League clash where they drew 1-1 with Pillars. …

ISMAILIYA: Ismaili board are set to convene in order to submit a request to the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), asking to play the remainder of their league games at the same timing as Ahly. The Dervishes are currently on top of the league table with 54 points, two more points and two games over second-placed …

LONDON: Flamboyant Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed has urged other clubs in the English Premier League to show the balls needed to join his call for a wage cap and so create a more even distribution of wealth in the top flight. Fulham are currently eighth in the table under the guidance of Roy Hodgson, …

CAIRO: Ahly assistant coach Hossam Al-Badri indicated that the upcoming clash with Zamalek will be different from any other Cairo derby during the past few years. Unlike previous seasons where they had an easy league ride, Ahly are in serious need for a win ahead of Thursday s meeting with their fallen arch-rivals, who have …

CAIRO: The final day of submitting Zamalek s elections applications witnessed the introduction of four new names, who will all be running for the club s presidency. Mahmoud Khaled, Nasser Hassanein, Mohamed Fekri and Salama Al-Hagrasi will all be eying the presidency seat in the elections which will be held on May 29. The final …

CAIRO: Ahmed Eid Abdel-Malek scored twice as Harras Hodoud beat El Gawafel Sportives de Gafsa of Tunisia 3-0 in the African Confederation Cup last 32 round first-leg. In the tie which was held in Alexandria, Abdel-Malek hit the net on four minuets before Abdel-Salam Nagah added a second in the 21st minute. Abdel-Malek wrapped up …

JOHANNESBURG: Al-Ahly of Egypt stayed on course for a record seventh African Champions League title by forcing a 1-1 draw against Kano Pillars in Nigeria at the weekend. The Cairo Red Devils achieved the result in Kaduna despite lacking three key players through injury, defender Shady Mohamed and midfielders Mohamed Barakat and Ahmed Hassan. Although …

The Under 20 World Cup that Egypt will be hosting in September, and whose draw was conducted in ancient Luxor last week, is the next best thing to a World Cup. FIFA organizes just two age-category tournaments for males: U-17 and U-20. There s nothing after U-20 except the World Cup itself so we are …

CAIRO: Wigan Athletic coach Steve Bruce said that Ahmed “Mido Hossam will earn a permanent deal with the Latics if he keeps up his discipline and enthusiasm. The Egyptian player has moved to the JJB Stadium on a loan deal from Middlesbrough in January, and apparently he s getting along with his boss. By the …

PORT SAID: Masri president Ali Farag played down reports linking three of the coastal club s regulars with moves to Ahly and Zamalek at the end of the season. Early this month, Masri board member Mohamed Ghoweba revealed that Ahly made an offer to sign Ahmed Fawzi. He also said Zamalek are interested in the …

CAIRO: Ismaili coach Ricardo Ferreira, whose future at the coastal side is doubtful, has received two offers from Lybia and Saudi Arabia s Ahly, according to a reliable source. The former Hilal tactician was appointed as the Dervishes boss this term, and his contract runs out in a couple of seasons. Ricardo received an offer …

CAIRO: Ahly midfielder Mohamed Barakat has been ruled out of the Cairo derby against Zamalek on April 23, while Ahmed Hassan is set to participate in the anticipated clash. According to Ahly s official website, Barakat is suffering a hamstring tear and won t be able to make his comeback until he fully recuperates. The …

CAIRO: African champions Ahly should be afraid when they face Kano Pillars in the CAF Champions League round of 16 on Sunday, according to official Ibrahim Galadima. Nigerian champions Kano are contemplating their chances of reaching the quarter-finals at the expense of the Egyptian giants, as Galadima revealed that it s a “World Cup final …

CAIRO: Ahly will be without Mohamed Barakat and Ahmed Hassan when they face Nigeria s Kano Pillars in the CAF Champions League next week. The midfield duo, who missed Monday s draw in Mahalla with respective injuries, pulled out of the squad which was scheduled to travel to Nigeria on Wednesday. Barakat is nursing a …

JOHANNESBURG: Celebrated Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose resumes his hunt for a final African Champions League title this weekend when the Egyptian giants visit Nigeria hoping to topple Kano Pillars. The graying 63-year-old Portuguese disciplinarian admitted in an Egyptian television interview that next season will be his last in charge of a club that has won …

CAIRO: Emad Meteb did not damage the anterior cruciate ligament and should return to action sooner than first thought, Ahly doctor Ihab Ali confirmed on Tuesday. The Egypt striker, who is on loan at Ittihad Jeddah, was injured in a continental match a few days ago and was set for a six-month layoff. However, Meteb …

CAIRO: Former Zamalek player Hazem Emam nominated himself for the club’s board of directors’ elections. Emam, who announced his retirement from professional football in the summer of 2008, eyes a second stint as a board member. He will endorse presidential candidate Mamdouh Abbas, who is expected to face a fierce battle against controversial lawyer Mortada …

CAIRO: Sion chairman Christian Constantin said on Tuesday that stand-in keeper Nicolas Beney would win a regular place at the expense of Essam Al-Hadari. Egypt goalkeeper Al-Hadari has skipped training and games after growing increasingly frustrated with what he described “Constantin s failure to live up to his promises without further elaborating. He recently revealed …

CAIRO: Andrei Arshavin said Wigan Athletic striker Ahmed “Mido Hossam posed the greatest threat to Arsenal in Saturday s Premier League encounter. The Egyptian striker fired Wigan in front at the JJB Stadium with a fine acrobatic effort but had to leave the pitch in the second half after sustaining a head injury. Following his …

CAIRO: Ahly striker Ahmed Hassan Farag is unlikely to join Police Union, due to the league leaders insistence to sign defender Ahmed Dweidar in exchange. Farag recently pronounced his willingness to leave Ahly in order to find first-team football, and Police were quick to show interest, but now talks seem to have reached a dead …

CAIRO: Sion chairman Christian Constantin said on Tuesday that stand-in keeper Nicolas Beney would win a regular place at the expense of Essam Al-Hadari. Egypt goalkeeper Al-Hadari has skipped training and games after growing increasingly frustrated with what he described “Constantin s failure to live up to his promises without further elaborating. He recently revealed …

CAIRO: Free agent Ibrahim Saied revealed that Portuguese side Vitoria Setubal made an offer to sign him. Vitoria coach watched me in action on DVDs and was convinced that I would be a good addition to his side, Saied told FilGoal.com on Tuesday. The Egyptian Football Association allowed the controversial defender to terminate his deal …

CAIRO: Ismaili came back from a goal down to beat Arab Contractors 5-1 at Canal Suez Stadium in the Egyptian Premier League on Monday. The visitors went ahead in the 11th minute through Salah “Maradona Amin, but the Dervishes responded fiercely to the early alert. Omar Gamal and Mohamed Mohsen Abou-Greisha put the hosts in …

CAIRO: Ahly assistant coach Hossam Al-Badri responded coyly to claims suggesting he would succeed Manuel Jose when the Portuguese leaves next year. Head coach Jose revealed last weekend that he will not see an extension to his contract after next season, and the case overshadowed the post-match conference of Ahly s 0-0 draw at Ghazl …

CAIRO: Ahly couldn t break the strong defense lines of Ghazl Mahalla in a goalless Egyptian Premier League game on Monday. The title holders now have 52 points on top of the table, while Mahalla remain 12th with 29 points. Ahly are only one point ahead of second-placed Ismaili, who thrashed Arab Contractors in Ismailiya. …