Zamalek won their 15th Egyptian Premier League crown with a 1-0 triumph over Ceramica Cleopatra, bouncing back from the heartbreak of their recent African Confederation Cup final.
Key takeaways
- Zamalek lifted the Egyptian Premier League title for the 15th time after defeating Ceramica Cleopatra 1-0.
- Oday Dabbagh scored the only goal, finding the net eight minutes into the match.
- Zamalek clinched the championship ahead of other results, needing just a point entering the final round.
- The victory ended their league title drought dating back to 2022.
- Holders Al Ahly were dethroned, finishing third—three points behind the champions and one clear of Pyramids in second.
How the match was decided
Entering the last round with three clubs still mathematically in the title race, Zamalek held the advantage: they only needed a single point to secure the championship, no matter what happened elsewhere.
They made that scenario straightforward when Oday Dabbagh struck early, scoring eight minutes in to put the Cairo club on course.
In the second half, Zamalek looked set to add a second goal, but Chico Banza’s attempt was ruled out after the effort was judged to have come following a foul. Cleopatra then had another chance to level matters 11 minutes after the restart, but they failed to convert a penalty.
Title success after continental disappointment
The result marked an end to Zamalek’s domestic wait for league glory, with their previous league title coming in 2022.
It also saw them finish above the competition that had shaped the standings: Al Ahly, the title holders, ended the campaign in third place, three points behind Zamalek, while Pyramids finished as runners-up, one point further back than the champions.
Just earlier in the month, Zamalek had suffered a cruel blow in the African Confederation Cup final. They were beaten on penalties 8-7 by Algeria’s USM Alger after the tie finished 1-1 on aggregate.
