From Long Absence to a New Chance.. Jefali Knocks on Zamalek’s Door Ahead of ZED and the Cairo Derby

24/9/2026
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By: EgyScores
.News
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Tunisian winger Ahmed Jefali is closing in on a fresh start with Zamalek after a long spell on the sidelines because of injury, with the player now approaching a full return at an important stage of the season.

His comeback comes at a useful time for Zamalek, as the coaching staff looks to increase its attacking options ahead of the return of domestic and continental competitions.

The international break could therefore give Jefali the opportunity to regain his place and finally show what he can offer after injuries disrupted his early period with the Cairo club.

Ready to Return

Jefali has reached a stage where he is medically, physically and technically ready to return to full team training and compete for a place in matches.

However, Zamalek’s technical and medical staff are taking a careful approach because of the length of his absence.

The club does not want to rush the Tunisian winger back into action and risk another setback, especially with Zamalek preparing for an important run of matches across several competitions.

His workload is expected to increase gradually in training, while head coach Moatamed Gamal will have the final decision over when the winger makes his competitive return.

The Egyptian Capital Cup match against ZED on October 7 could provide one possible route back into action.

The technical staff believes Jefali is medically and technically capable of taking part, but his involvement will depend on the coach’s plans and how the player responds during the days leading up to the game.

Jefali’s return could also give Zamalek another attacking solution on the wing, with the club looking for more options following changes to its attacking lineup.

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For the Tunisian, the coming weeks represent a very different opportunity from his earlier spell with the club, when injury prevented him from getting enough minutes to properly show his ability.

Test Before the Derby

Zamalek are planning to make full use of the international break by playing two friendly matches before returning to official competition.

The White Knights are scheduled to face Modern Sport on September 27 at Cairo International Stadium’s training ground, before meeting ENPPI on October 4 at Petrosport Stadium.

The two games will allow the coaching staff to improve the physical and technical condition of the squad and could also play an important role in gradually bringing Jefali back to match rhythm.

Zamalek will then face ZED on October 7 in the Egyptian Capital Cup, a match that will serve as one of the team’s final tests before the Cairo derby.

The White Knights are scheduled to meet Al Ahly at Cairo International Stadium on October 11 in the sixth round of the Egyptian Premier League.

Zamalek collected 13 points from their opening five league matches before the international break.

Jefali is not the only player returning from injury, with Amr Nasser and Ahmed Abdel Rahim “Isho” also recovering and returning to the coaching staff’s options.

The main challenge for Jefali now is to turn his medical and physical readiness into an effective presence on the pitch.

After spending a long period away from the spotlight, the Tunisian winger finally has another opportunity to restart his Zamalek career, and the matches in October could provide the first real indication of whether he can secure a regular role and turn a difficult beginning into a successful new chapter.