CAIRO — Round 16 of the Egyptian Premier League delivered a thrilling dose of drama and intensity, injecting fresh excitement into an already gripping title race. Fans and pundits alike were kept on the edge of their seats as the championship battle tightened, with every point carrying immense significance.
Ceramica Cleopatra, despite suffering a setback on the pitch, showcased remarkable resilience, managing to cling to the summit of the table.
Meanwhile, the league’s traditional powerhouses, Al-Ahly and Zamalek, showcased their championship pedigree. Both sides recorded commanding victories—Al-Ahly over Wadi Degla and Zamalek against Petrojet—signaling a renewed surge in form as they continue to assert themselves in the hunt for domestic supremacy.
Pyramids FC, however, missed a golden opportunity to close the gap at the top, being held to a 1–1 stalemate by El-Gouna. The dropped points proved costly, compressing the standings and intensifying the competition, ensuring that the race for the Egyptian Premier League crown remains unpredictable, fiercely competitive, and endlessly compelling.
Al-Masry 3–2 Ceramica
Al-Masry of Port Said edged past Ceramica Cleopatra with a thrilling 3–2 victory at the New Suez Stadium.
Ceramica winger Islam Issa opened the scoring in the 35th minute, but Al-Masry responded before halftime as forward Karim Bambo struck the equaliser in the 45th minute. Moments later, Algerian striker Mounder Temine completed the comeback with a second goal for Al-Masry, giving his side the lead heading into the break.
In the second half, midfielder Hassan Ali extended Al-Masry’s advantage in the 68th minute, before defender Saad Samir pulled one back for Ceramica in stoppage time (90+2′).
Despite the defeat, Ceramica remained top of the Egyptian Premier League standings with 32 points from 15 matches, while Al-Masry climbed to fifth place with 23 points from 13 games.
Pyramids FC 1–1 El-Gouna
Pyramids FC was held to a 1–1 draw by El-Gouna at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, dropping two crucial points in the title race.
El-Gouna took the lead in the 37th minute when defender Ahmed Abdel Rasoul converted a penalty kick, but Pyramids hit back just before halftime as left winger Mostafa Ziko found the equaliser in the 45th minute.
The result took Pyramids to 28 points from 13 matches, keeping them in second place in the league standings, while El-Gouna climbed to 19 points in 12th position.
Zamalek 2–0 Petrojet
Zamalek secured a convincing 2–0 victory over Petrojet at Cairo International Stadium.
Palestinian international Adi Al-Dabbagh opened the scoring in the 21st minute after receiving a brilliant through ball from Nasser Mansi that sent him clear on goal. His initial shot was parried by goalkeeper Omar Salah, but Al-Dabbagh reacted quickly to fire the rebound into the net.
Zamalek doubled their lead in the 39th minute when defender Hossam Abdel Meguid converted a penalty kick with confidence.
With this win, Zamalek moved up to fourth place in the league standings with 25 points from 13 matches, having recorded 7 wins, 4 draws, and 2 defeats. The White Knights still have two postponed fixtures against Smouha and Enppi from rounds 14 and 15.
Petrojet, meanwhile, stayed in 13th place with 19 points, achieved through 4 victories, 7 draws, and 4 losses.
Al-Ahly 3–1 Degla
Al-Ahly delivered an impressive 3–1 win over Wadi Degla at Cairo International Stadium.
Egyptian international Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet,” winger Ahmed Sayed “Zizo,” and newly-signed striker Marwan Othman were on target for Al-Ahly, while Ziad Osama scored Degla’s consolation goal.
The Red Devils raised their tally to 26 points from 13 matches to climb into third place, while Wadi Degla remained on 23 points from 15 games in seventh position.
The defending champions began the match with strong attacking intent and sustained pressure until Trezeguet broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, capitalising on a defensive error by Degla’s defender Ahmed Ayman before dribbling past the defense and goalkeeper to slot the ball into the net.
After a VAR review, Al-Ahly was awarded a penalty following a foul by Ayman on midfielder Emam Ashour. Zizo calmly converted from the spot in first-half stoppage time (45+1′) to extend the lead.
Al-Ahly continued their dominance in the second half, and in the 67th minute, Ashour delivered a precise cross from the right flank that Othman finished clinically to make it 3–0.
Wadi Degla pushed forward late in the game and was rewarded when substitute Ziad Osama found the net in the fourth minute of added time.
Smouha 2-1 Enppi
Smouha secured a 2-1 victory over Enppi at Petro Sport Stadium.
Midfielder Khaled El-Ghandour opened the scoring for Smouha in the 19th minute, before Enppi’s Moroccan forward Youssef Oubaba equalised in the 24th minute. The winning goal came late from Smouha midfielder Samir Fekri in the 90+2nd minute, sealing the triumph for the Alexandria side.
The result lifts Smouha to eighth place in the Egyptian League standings with 22 points from 14 matches (5 wins, 7 draws, 2 losses). Enppi remains in 11th place with 19 points from 13 matches (4 wins, 7 draws, 2 losses).
