A responsible source at the Egyptian Football Federation has revealed that the president of the Federation, Engineer Hany Abou-Rida, and the head of the UAE Pro League, Abdullah Nasser Al-Junaibi, have tentatively agreed to continue holding the Egyptian Super Cup in the UAE next year, following the success of the last edition, which took place in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. The source confirmed to «Emirates Today» that many details regarding the next edition of the Egyptian Super Cup were discussed between Abou-Rida and Al-Junaibi on the sidelines of the final match between Al-Ahly and Zamalek last Sunday. These details include increasing the financial prizes in the new edition while continuing to hold the tournament with four teams, as has been the case in recent years. The UAE Pro League had allocated $600,000 in financial prizes for the last edition of the Super Cup. Meanwhile, Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, praised the exceptional organization of the Super Cup and the comprehensive facilities and professional organization provided by the UAE, reflecting its ability to host the largest sporting events in the region. Sobhy said in a statement to the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports' Media Center that the distinctive atmosphere inside Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium during the final match and the large presence of Al-Ahly and Zamalek fans contributed to a distinguished edition worthy of Egyptian football and its fans. The Egyptian Minister pointed out that «the viewership rate for the Egyptian Super Cup reaching nearly a billion viewers reflects the significant position enjoyed by Egyptian football, both Arab and internationally, and confirms the strength of the influence and appeal it possesses». The final of the Egyptian Super Cup, hosted by the UAE, recently saw Al-Ahly crowned champions for the fifth consecutive time and the 16th time in their history after winning the final against their traditional rivals Zamalek (2-0) in an exciting match. A state of intense anger and discontent prevailed among the fans of Zamalek regarding the team's performance and the level of its new players, who were signed during the last summer transfer window, considering that the team lost due to the weakness of the new signings and the lack of readiness of the key players for the match. Zamalek's former board member Hazem Imam said in media statements: «The deals the club made in the summer are not worthy of Zamalek's name or its great status in Egyptian football». In contrast, satisfaction prevailed within the corridors of Al-Ahly club. Al-Ahly's director of football, Walid Salah, told «Emirates Today»: «Winning the Super Cup is a natural and expected thing for Al-Ahly», adding: «We look at the tournament as part of the team's journey towards bigger goals, at the forefront of which is winning the CAF Champions League and maintaining local dominance».
