Cairo - Hossam Al Said
Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed al-Akabawi
Egypt\'s Zamalek have terminated the contract of recently signed veteran goalkeeper Mohamed al-Akabawi.
The 34-year-old joined the Whites on a three-year
deal after ending his 11-year stay with Arab Contractors last week.
However, club sources said that the player was involved in an argument with coach Helmy Toulan after his refusal to play him in the African Champions League.
Meanwhile, defender Ahmed Magdy is also on his way out of Zamalek, after expressing his desire to play for a team abroad. The versatile 27-year-old agreed to terminate his contract and waive a compensation package to leave the club.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has warned Cairo duo Zamalek and Ahly that they could be expelled from the African Champions League if their fans violated a crowd ban during Wednesday’s Group A clash, Zamalek said on Sunday.
Zamalek, who will host the game at a tiny 12,000-seat stadium in the Red Sea resort of El-Gouna, said they had been notified by CAF that any fan presence would not be allowed.
\"The club’s football administrator was warned by CAF that Zamalek and Ahly could be dismissed from the competition if their fans stormed the stadium on Wednesday,\" Zamalek said in a statement on their website.
Ultras Ahlawy and Ultras White Knights, hardcore fan groups of Ahly and Zamalek respectively, said they would attend Wednesday’s Champions League game, raising the possibility of tough CAF sanctions.
The fans issued a number of statements, urging supporters not to commit any violations during the match.