Al Ahly’s 2-0 Derby Win Over Zamalek Earns Ammouta’s Praise
Al Ahly claimed a valuable 2-0 football victory over fierce rivals Zamalek in the Egyptian Premier League on Sunday, with head coach Houssine Ammouta describing the result as deserved after a demanding Cairo derby. Mohamed Hany opened the scoring before substitute Moncef Bakrar sealed the win late in the second half, giving the Red Giants a result that could provide a significant boost in confidence and momentum.
Derbies between Al Ahly and Zamalek rarely follow a predictable script. The pressure, history and intensity surrounding the fixture can make form an unreliable guide, while small moments often decide the outcome. This meeting carried an additional challenge: many players had only recently returned from international duty, leaving both sides with limited time to recover and prepare.
Ammouta says Al Ahly earned the result
Speaking after the match, Ammouta acknowledged the difficulty of facing Zamalek but said his players had done enough to merit all three points. He pointed to the importance of scoring twice in a contest where chances and space were at a premium.
“The Al Ahly and Zamalek derby is always difficult,” Ammouta said. “The match was very hard, especially with the players having returned from international duty only recently. Our win was deserved, particularly after we scored two goals.”
For Al Ahly, the victory was more than a positive league result. Beating a direct rival can shape the mood around a team and strengthen belief in its approach, particularly during a busy spell of domestic and continental football. Ammouta also praised the commitment shown by his players, saying they had handled the physical and mental demands of the occasion.
Defensive preparation pays off amid injury concerns
Ammouta singled out Tawfik Mohamed and Ashraf Dari for their contributions, explaining that the club had used the international break to prepare players who could be important in a defence affected by serious injuries. Al Ahly also played three friendly matches during the period, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to work on fitness, combinations and match readiness.
That preparation proved especially valuable in a derby where defensive concentration is essential. With little margin for error, Al Ahly needed its back line to remain organised while the team looked for opportunities to attack. Ammouta’s comments suggest the coaching staff had planned carefully for the possibility of being without several regular options.
His praise for Dari and Tawfik also highlights a broader challenge for teams competing across multiple competitions: squad depth is not simply about having replacements available, but ensuring those players are ready to perform when called upon. As Al Ahly’s schedule continues, the ability to rotate without losing structure could be crucial.
El Shenawy and Shobeir both remain important
The goalkeeping position was another subject raised after the match. Ammouta stressed that Al Ahly needs both Mohamed El Shenawy and Mostafa Shobeir, rejecting the idea that the club should view the situation as a choice between one goalkeeper and the other.
He described Shobeir as Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper while also emphasising El Shenawy’s long record of service to Al Ahly and the national team. The message was clear: both players have a role to play, and their experience and quality give the team valuable depth in a demanding season.
Managing competition between goalkeepers can be delicate, particularly at a club where expectations are high and every major match attracts close attention. Ammouta’s public backing of both players may help maintain unity while recognising the contribution each has made. For Al Ahly, having two trusted options could prove important if injuries, fatigue or fixture congestion force changes.
Zizo’s versatility gives Al Ahly tactical options
Ammouta also praised Zizo’s performance, highlighting the range of roles he took on during the match. The attacker operated on both the right and left before moving into the number 10 position after Emam Ashour was substituted. That flexibility gave Al Ahly different ways to progress the ball and adjust its attacking shape as the game developed.
The coach said Ashour had played a good match, despite suggestions that he had not reached his usual level. Ammouta’s assessment reflects the difficulty of judging individual performances in a tense derby: players may contribute through movement, pressing or tactical discipline even when they do not produce a decisive moment.
Zizo’s ability to shift across the attacking line was particularly useful as Al Ahly searched for a second goal. Versatile forwards can make it harder for opponents to mark specific threats, while allowing a coach to change positions without using every available substitution. In a close football contest, that adaptability can create openings late in the game.
Hany and Bakrar deliver the decisive moments
Mohamed Hany gave Al Ahly the lead in the 39th minute, breaking the deadlock before half-time. His goal put the Red Giants in control of the scoreboard and forced Zamalek to pursue an equaliser after the interval.
The match remained competitive until the closing stages, when Algeria international Moncef Bakrar made the result safe. Introduced as a substitute, Bakrar struck a low shot into the far corner in the 80th minute, finishing the move beyond Zamalek goalkeeper Mahdi Soliman. The goal rewarded Al Ahly’s late attacking effort and underlined the value of impact players from the bench.
Ammouta said the team’s forwards had shown quality in creating chances, while the overall performance required considerable effort at both ends of the pitch. A two-goal margin in a derby is a meaningful outcome, particularly against an opponent capable of changing a match with one attack.
What the result means for Al Ahly
Speaking on Al Ahly’s channel, Ammouta described the club as one of the biggest in the game and praised its supporters. He said the players had shown commitment and character in a match that demanded both physical stamina and mental focus.
The win gives Al Ahly a positive platform as it turns its attention to upcoming fixtures, including continental competition and further Premier League challenges. The team will need to maintain its defensive organisation, manage the workload of players returning from international duty and make effective use of its squad depth.
For fans assessing the club’s prospects, this result offers encouraging signs rather than a guarantee of what comes next. The performance showed that Al Ahly can find goals through different players, adapt its attacking roles and rely on substitutes to influence a major match. Those qualities will matter as the season intensifies.
With the derby now settled, attention will also turn to individual futures and squad decisions, including debate among supporters about what Percy Tau should do next. But for Ammouta and Al Ahly, the immediate focus is on building from a hard-earned victory. The coach’s post-match comments point to a team that values depth, flexibility and collective effort—qualities that could shape its next football prediction as it pursues success on multiple fronts.
