Report by Dr. Talal Osman
Zamalek miss crucial chance as goalless draw with ENPPI re‑ignites title race
Zamalek frustrated their fans with a goalless draw against ENPPI on Monday in the fourth matchday of the Egyptian Premier League Championship Group, wasting a big opportunity to pull clear at the top and instead keeping the title race wide open in the final stretch of the season.
Playing at Cairo International Stadium in front of a passionate home crowd, Zamalek failed to convert home advantage into goals. The team missed several clear chances over the two halves through Abdallah El‑Saied, Chico Banzo, and Juan Betancur, while the crossbar repelled a powerful header from Mahmoud Hamdi “El‑Wensh”.
ENPPI’s grit and the damage to Zamalek’s campaign
ENPPI, the petroleum‑company club, underlined their effectiveness against the giants by securing a second point from Zamalek this season. After having already beaten Zamalek 1–0 in the first‑leg clash, the PetroJets have now cost Zamalek five crucial points in the race for the title, shaking the “White Knights”’ claim to the 15th league crown in their history—and the first since 2022.
Zamalek thus failed to secure a third consecutive league win, but they remain at the summit on 50 points, ahead of rivals Al Ahly and Pyramids FC, who each sit on 44 points going into their own match later on the same Monday.
Decisive next‑round clash against Al Ahly
Zamalek must now conquer a high‑stakes hurdle in the following matchday when they face Al Ahly in the derby of Egyptian football—to be played on Friday next. That clash could define the trajectory of the title fight, especially if the Cairo draw has already shaken the team’s momentum.
Meanwhile, ENPPI climbed to 36 points in seventh place in the seven‑team Championship Group, proving themselves a stubborn obstacle for the big clubs in this final stage of the season.
Other Monday result: Al Masry edge Smouha
In a parallel match of the same round, Al Masry of Port Said edged Smouha 1–0, with defender Mandour Tamim scoring as early as the second minute at the Ismailia Stadium.
The win marked Al Masry’s first victory under coach Emad El‑Nahas, after two prior draws against Pyramids and ENPPI. The three points lifted them to 37 points in fifth place, while Smouha were left on 31 points in seventh place, having now lost four matches in a row.
League‑stage format reminder
The first phase of the Egyptian Premier League was contested by 21 teams, from whom the top seven clubs qualified for the Championship Group, while the sides placed from eighth to 21st entered the Relegation Group.
All points earned in the first half have been carried over into the second phase, with separate home‑and‑away runs now determining the title winner and the teams facing relegation.
