One Point Keeps Zamalek’s Title Hopes Alive as Pyramids and Al Ahly Await

Zamalek is poised to secure the Egyptian Premier League crown as they prepare to host Ceramica Cleopatra at Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday in the seventh and final round of the championship playoff. The team leads the standings with 53 points, two ahead of their closest rival Pyramids, who face Smouha at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo. Al Ahly, third with 50 points, requires a near-miraculous outcome to retain their title for a fourth consecutive year when they visit Al Masry at Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria.

Zamalek’s Path to the Title

The White Knights need only a single point to claim their 15th league title and their first since 2022. They hold the advantage over Pyramids based on head-to-head results, having defeated them 1-0 in both the home and away fixtures this season. This league title carries significant weight for Zamalek following a difficult season marked by a winter transfer ban due to outstanding payments owed to former and current players and coaches. Additionally, the club seeks to regain favor with its supporters after falling short in the CAF Confederation Cup final, losing to USM Alger on penalties after each team won their respective home leg 1-0.

The continental loss was a blow to both fans and management, who had hoped to secure the $4 million prize money to help resolve 17 outstanding payment disputes. Zamalek will face Ceramica Cleopatra without goalkeeper El Mehdi Soliman and defenders Mohamed Ismail and Ahmed Fattouh due to injuries, while the participation of Omar Gaber remains uncertain as he missed the continental final for the same reason.

Coach Moatamed Gamal, Zamalek’s third manager this season following Yannick Ferreira and Ahmed Abdel Raouf, aims to become the first Egyptian coach to win the league with the club since Essam Bahig in the 1987-1988 season.

Pyramids’ Title Ambitions

Pyramids harbor hopes of capitalizing on a Zamalek slip-up by defeating Smouha and reaching 54 points, which would secure their first league title since the club’s establishment in 2008. A league triumph would complete a domestic double for Pyramids, who recently won the Egypt Cup for the second time in their history by beating ZED in the final.

Despite heavy spending since rebranding from Asyuti Sport in 2019, Pyramids had endured several barren seasons. However, they have now collected five trophies over the past three seasons, including two Egypt Cups, the CAF Champions League, the CAF Super Cup, and the FIFA Africa, Asia, and Pacific Cup. The club finished second behind Al Ahly in the last three league campaigns, with Croatian coach Krunoslav Juric, who has led them to all five titles, seeking to finally capture the elusive league crown.

Al Ahly’s Challenging Scenario

Defending champions Al Ahly, winners of the last three league titles, face a daunting task. They must defeat Al Masry, while both Zamalek loses and Pyramids drop points, to reach 53 points and tie with Zamalek. The title would then be decided on head-to-head results, where Al Ahly lost 2-1 away and 3-0 at home to Zamalek this season. Securing the league would mark their record 46th championship after a season that has fallen short of expectations.

Despite a record transfer window that included signing Ahmed Sayed "Zizo" from Zamalek, Tunisian Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane from Ferencváros, and the return of Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet" from Trabzonspor, along with other acquisitions, Al Ahly managed only the Egyptian Super Cup title. The team exited the CAF Champions League at the quarterfinal stage, the Egypt Cup in the first round, and slipped to third place in the league, sparking widespread discontent among supporters.

Al Ahly’s lineup for the crucial match against Al Masry is uncertain, with doubts over goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, playmaker Imam Ashour, and defender Ahmed Ramadan, all nursing injuries sustained in the previous round against ENPPI.

Relegation Battle and Promotion

The fight to avoid relegation remains intense among five clubs competing to escape the last two demotion spots, which would see them join Ismaily and Pharco in dropping to the second division. The teams involved are Ghazl El Mahalla and Al Mokawloon Al Arab, each with 34 points; Al Ittihad Alexandria with 32 points; Kahraba Ismailia with 30 points; and Haras El Hodoud with 26 points.

Meanwhile, El Qanah, Petrojet Asyut, and Abu Qir Fertilizers have secured promotion to the Premier League for the upcoming season.