Zamalek are facing an increasingly difficult squad situation after the club revealed that Mohamed El Sayed and Amr Nasser will both spend around 20 days out of group training.
The latest absences come as Zamalek continue to deal with a shortage of players caused by the club’s registration crisis and inability to complete new signings to strengthen the squad.
The situation presents technical director Moataz Gamal and his staff with another challenge, particularly with the fixture schedule set to become more demanding in both the Egyptian League and African Champions League.
Zamalek are currently second in the Egyptian Premier League with 10 points, two behind leaders Pyramids and level with Al Ahly. They have made a positive start to the league after the opening four rounds, but their limited squad could become a concern as the number of matches increases.
Mohamed El Sayed ruled out for 20 days
Zamalek football director Abdel Nasser Mohamed provided an update on the club’s injured players, based on information received from head of the medical staff Dr Mohamed Osama.
One of the main concerns is Mohamed El Sayed, who suffered a metatarsal injury during the match against Abu Qir Fertilizers.
Mohamed confirmed that the injury will keep the player out for approximately 20 days.
” Mohamed El Sayed will be out for about 20 days after suffering a metatarsal injury during the Abu Qir Fertilizers match, and this injury is unrelated to the previous injury.”
The absence represents another blow to a Zamalek squad already operating with limited numbers.
The club’s registration problems mean the technical staff cannot simply turn to new recruits to fill the gaps, increasing the importance of managing the available players carefully during the coming fixtures.
Mahmoud Jihad injury not expected to cause long absence
There was better news regarding Mahmoud Jihad.
Mohamed said the player has suffered a bruise to the pelvic bone, which caused temporary pain but is not considered serious enough to rule him out for a lengthy period.
The football director said the injury should not prevent Jihad from taking part in upcoming matches.
That update will provide some relief for the coaching staff, given the current shortage of available players.
Zamalek’s ability to maintain their strong league position could depend on keeping as many members of the squad available as possible while navigating the registration issue and a congested fixture list.
Zamalek question referee’s protection of players
The club’s concerns extend beyond injuries themselves, with Mohamed also criticising the referee’s performance during the Abu Qir Fertilizers match.
He argued that Zamalek players were repeatedly subjected to strong tackles and said the referee did not provide sufficient protection.
“The referee in our last match did not provide adequate protection for the players, as they were subjected to severe and repeated beatings, which caused injuries to a number of them.”
Mohamed’s comments link the physical nature of the match with the injuries suffered by members of the Zamalek squad.
The football director’s criticism comes at a time when the club can ill afford further absences because of the limited options available to the technical staff.
Amr Nasser adds to Zamalek’s absence list
Zamalek striker Amr Nasser is another player expected to miss around 20 days before he can return to group training.
His recovery timeline adds to the problems facing the coaching staff, who must already work around the absence of Mohamed El Sayed and the club’s limited squad.
The situation is particularly challenging because Zamalek cannot currently strengthen their squad through new signings as a result of the registration crisis.
Despite those difficulties, the club have collected 10 points from their first four league matches and sit second in the table.
With the Egyptian League and African Champions League fixtures ahead, Zamalek will need to manage their available players carefully.
For now, the club’s medical updates provide a mixed picture: Mahmoud Jihad is not expected to face a lengthy absence, but Mohamed El Sayed and Amr Nasser face periods of about 20 days before returning to group training.
The combination of injuries, a restricted squad and a growing fixture schedule leaves Gamal’s technical staff facing a difficult period as Zamalek attempt to maintain their position near the top of the league.
