Zamalek coach Ahmed Abdel Raouf announced that one of the White Knights’ players will never play for the first team again while he is in charge, without revealing the reasons.
Zamalek won 1-0 against Baladeyet El Mahalla in the Round of 32 on Sunday evening, advancing to the Round of 16 and avoiding the fate of their arch-rivals, Al Ahly, who were eliminated from the competition by Telecom Egypt on Saturday.
After the match, Abdel Raouf was asked about some of the absent players, the first being Mahmoud Bentayj. He revealed that the Moroccan had unilaterally terminated his contract with Zamalek, and consequently, he is not participating in training or matches.
As for Ahmed Hamdi, Abdel Raouf confirmed that he will not play again as long as he is the coach, stating that it was “his personal decision.”
Zamalek will be absent from the scene until January 20, 2026, when the Egyptian Premier League resumes following the Africa Cup of Nations. The first match will be against Enppi at Cairo International Stadium.
Abdel Raouf’s continued tenure as coach remains uncertain, as Zamalek was expected to appoint a foreign coach. However, the situation now hinges on whether the club’s financial situation improves in the coming period or if the current precarious state of affairs persists.
