Rabat- Egyptian club Al-Ahly secured a 2-0 victory over Zamalek at Cairo International Stadium in the sixth round of the Egyptian league, giving Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta his first win over the club’s traditional rival as Al Ahly coach on Sunday.
Ammouta’s first victory over Zamalek since taking charge of Al Ahly in June came in the 133rd Cairo Derby.
The victory moved Al-Ahly to the top of the Egyptian league with 16 points. The club now awaits Monday’s match between Pyramids and Ceramica Cleopatra, while Zamalek remain third with 13 points.
Played in front of approximately 40,000 supporters, the 133rd Cairo derby saw Al-Ahly take control through two goals from outside the penalty area. Mohamed Hany opened the scoring in the 39th minute, while Algerian forward Monsef Bakrar sealed the victory with a second goal in the 80th minute.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ammouta acknowledged the difficulty of the derby, commending his players’ performance. “The Cairo derby between Al Ahly FC and Zamalek is always tough. The match was very difficult due to the players returning from national teams; our victory was deserved, especially after scoring two goals,” Ammouta said.
The match was Al-Ahly’s sixth official game under the Moroccan coach. The team has recorded five wins and one draw in the Egyptian league, with the draw coming against El Mokawloon in the fourth round.
Looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures, Ammouta said the team had used the international break to prepare its players, including those returning from injury. “We put together a programme during the international break and played three friendly matches. We have worked on preparing players such as Achraf Dari and Mohamed Tawfik, particularly because we have some serious injuries in defence,” the Moroccan coach added.
For Al-Ahly, the focus will be on maintaining their position at the top of the league as the competition continues. With Pyramids still able to move ahead, Sunday’s derby victory gives Ammouta’s team an important boost.
