Egyptian Super Cup to be played in UAE for second year in a row

Abu Dhabi: The Egyptian Super Cup will be held in the UAE for the second time running this October, Gulf News understands.

Al Jazira’s Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi will host the clash between the 2016 Egyptian Premier League champions Al Ahli and Egypt Cup winners Zamalek. The exact date for the encounter has yet to be decided, a source for the television channel Abu Dhabi Sports told Gulf News.

The move would be the latest boost to UAE-Egyptian footballing relations following the confirmation on Sunday that the Arabian Gulf Super Cup between Al Ahli and Al Jazira will be played in Cairo on September 13.

It is the first time that the UAE football season-opener — which was originally due to take place next Sunday — will be played outside the Emirates since its inception in 2008.

The two countries’ footballing union began last October when more than 25,000 fans crammed into Al Ain’s Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium to watch Egypt’s Super Cup between Al Ahly and Zamalek.

The same venue also hosted a friendly between Al Ahly and the Italian giants AS Roma in May.

The superb success of both games persuaded their organisers,the Egyptian marketing agency Presentation Sports, to approach the PLC about staging the UAE Super Cup in Egypt.