Al Ahly Edge Past El Sharkia Enppi 3-2 in Egyptian League Opener

Al Ahly Edge Past El Sharkia Enppi 3-2 in Egyptian League Opener

Cairo – Special

Al Ahly launched their 2026/2027 Egyptian Premier League campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win over hosts El Sharkia Enppi, in a match played on Sunday evening at Cairo International Stadium as part of Matchday 1, amid great anticipation for Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta's first official test in charge of the Red Giants.

A Shock Start for Enppi... and a Strong Response from the "Red Giant"

The opening minutes brought an unwelcome surprise for the Al Ahly faithful, as El Sharkia Enppi took an early lead through Ali Ehab in the 17th minute, before Mohamed Essam doubled the visitors' advantage in the 24th minute, putting Enppi 2-0 up and handing Al Ahly an early test in their season opener.

The 25th minute produced a pivotal moment that could have complicated matters further for Al Ahly: Enppi were awarded a penalty, but Mohamed Hamdy missed the spot-kick — a psychological boost the Red side used to gradually work their way back into the game.

A Red Comeback Completed by a Late Hat-Trick of Goals

Al Ahly refused to give in, and Marwan Attia pulled one back with a fine goal in the 34th minute, giving the team fresh hope of turning the result around as the first half ended.

In the second half, the Reds kept up the pressure in search of an equalizer. Star man Ahmed Sayed "Zizo" converted from the penalty spot in the 70th minute to level the score, before Mohamed Magdy "Afsha" completed the turnaround with the winning goal in the final minute (90'). Al Ahly thus overturned a two-goal deficit to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory, giving coach Hussein Ammouta the perfect start to his first official matches in charge of the club.

Standings After Matchday 1

With the three points, Al Ahly climbed to second place in the Egyptian Premier League table on goal difference (+1), just behind leaders Pyramids FC, who also sit on three points but with a superior goal difference (+3), at the start of a season eagerly watched after the technical changes the Red side underwent under Ammouta.

Reading the Performance

Al Ahly's first-half display raised some concern, with a clear defensive lapse allowing Enppi to score twice early on. Yet the team showed real fighting spirit and an ability to come back in big matches — a trait long associated with Al Ahly throughout its history. The contributions of Zizo and Afsha, alongside Marwan Attia's goal, offered early evidence of the attacking depth Ammouta will be counting on this season, while Mohamed Hamdy's missed penalty proved a decisive turning point in the Reds' favor.

Al Ahly continue their league campaign in the coming rounds, with fans hoping Ammouta can build on this positive start and mount a strong title challenge this season.