Zamalek Reclaim the Egyptian League Crown

Zamalek returned to the summit of Egyptian football after clinching the Egyptian Premier League title for the 15th time in the club’s history, following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ceramica Cleopatra in the seventh and final round of the championship phase, ending a four-year wait since their last league triumph.

The White Knights secured the title after a thrilling campaign that saw an intense battle continue until the final round between Zamalek, Al Ahli and Pyramids FC, in what was considered one of the most exciting seasons in Egyptian football in recent years.

Zamalek ultimately managed to maintain their place at the top of the standings after raising their tally to 56 points, finishing two points ahead of runners-up Pyramids FC and three clear of Al Ahli, who ended the season in third place.

The final round fixtures were all played simultaneously amid huge anticipation over the identity of the champions. The night eventually ended with massive Zamalek celebrations inside the stadium that hosted the decisive clash, as well as throughout the streets of the Egyptian capital, after the club reclaimed the country’s most prestigious domestic title.

A Huge Night of Celebration

At Cairo International Stadium, Zamalek entered their clash against Ceramica Cleopatra with full concentration from the opening whistle, driven by a packed crowd eager to witness the long-awaited title celebrations for the first time since 2022.

The league leaders quickly translated their early dominance into a goal when Palestinian forward Oday Dabbagh found the net in the eighth minute after capitalizing on a well-worked attacking move to hand his side a priceless advantage.

Zamalek controlled the first half and continued to threaten their opponents’ goal, but despite their superiority, they endured tense moments — most notably in the 60th minute when the referee awarded a penalty to Ceramica Cleopatra. Moroccan forward Ahmed Belhadj stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Awad emerged as the hero after producing a brilliant save to preserve his side’s lead and keep the dream of the title alive.

The save sparked wild celebrations among the 30,000 supporters inside the stadium, before the scenes of joy spread across the streets of Cairo as Zamalek fans celebrated their club’s return to domestic glory.

With this triumph, Zamalek also secured qualification for next season’s CAF Champions League after missing out on the competition since the 2023 edition, in a significant step for a club aiming to restore its continental presence and status among Africa’s elite.

Meanwhile, Pyramids FC finished the campaign in second place after defeating Smouha 2-1 to move onto 54 points, securing qualification for the CAF Champions League for the fourth consecutive season and continuing to establish themselves among Egypt’s leading clubs in recent years.

As for Al Ahli, they had to settle for third place despite their 2-1 victory over Al Masry, meaning they will miss out on the CAF Champions League for the first time since 2016 and instead compete in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.