Caretaker coach Sami Komsan will lead Ahly for one last time when they face Smouha in the Egyptian Premier League on Wednesday, with Portuguese Ricardo Soares set to take over after the game.

Portuguese coach Ricardo Soares and four of his assistants have terminated their contracts with Gil Vicente ahead of an expected move to take over Cairo giants Ahly.

Widespread reports in Portugal and Egypt said Soares had reached an agreement to take charge of Ahly, who had been intensively looking for a new manager since the departure of South African coach Pitso Mosiame earlier this month.

Also Read : AL AHLY REACH AGREEMENT WITH NEW COACH AFTER PITSO MOSIMANE’S EXIT

Under the management of coach Sami Komsan, Ahly won two out of three league games, drawing only with arch-rivals and main challengers Zamalek in a thrilling Cairo derby.

He also led Ahly to the semi-finals of the delayed 2020-21 Egypt Cup following a 2-0 victory over the big-spending Pyramids FC.

Komsan is expected to be retained in the backroom staff even when Soares, who left Portugal’s Gil Vicente on Tuesday, takes over.

Ahly will be looking to maintain their recent fine run when they face Smouh as they seek to leapfrog defending champions Zamalek on top.

Although the Red Devils lie third in the table with 44 points, they will overtake leaders Zamalek with a five-point lead should they win their three games in hand.

Ahly are boosted by the return from injury of several key players, including Tunisian left-back Ali Maaloul, defensive midfielder Hamdi Fathi, winger Hussein El-Shahat and defenders Ayman Ashraf and Mohamed Abdel-Moneim.

Winger Ahmed Abdel-Kader and South African forward Percy Tau are still out with injuries.