CAIRO — The sixth round of the group stage of the 2025–2026 Egypt Capital Cup, the tournament’s fifth edition, produced dramatic and decisive outcomes, bringing heightened tension as several teams saw their campaigns come to an end.
Defending champions Ceramica Cleopatra was knocked out after a shock defeat to Ghazl El-Mahalla, while Zamalek also bowed out following a loss to ZED FC. Ismaily and NBE Club were both eliminated after playing out a goalless draw. Smouha, meanwhile, kept their qualification hopes alive with a crucial victory over Haras El-Hodood.
El-Mahalla 1–0 Ceramica
Ghazl El-Mahalla secured a vital 1–0 victory over Ceramica Cleopatra at El-Mahalla Stadium, eliminating the defending champions from the competition.
The first-half ended goalless amid disciplined defending and limited chances at both ends. The breakthrough came in the 68th minute, when left winger Ashraf Magdy found the net to give the hosts a deserved lead.
The goal proved decisive as El-Mahalla held on until the final whistle, bringing Ceramica’s reign as champions to an end. Ceramica had previously dominated the tournament, lifting three consecutive titles.
ZED 1–0 Zamalek
Zamalek officially exited the Egypt Capital Cup after suffering a 1–0 defeat against ZED FC at Al-Salam Stadium.
Left winger Ahmed Khaled scored the match-winning goal, as ZED tightened their grip on Group Three, moving top with 13 points. They are followed by Al-Masry (11), Al-Ittihad of Alexandria (7), Smouha (8), Kahraba Ismailia (5), Zamalek (4), and Haras El-Hodood (1).
NBE 0–0 Ismaily
NBE Club and Ismaily played out a cautious goalless draw at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium, in a match dominated by midfield battles and limited attacking threat.
Ismaily moved to five points, finishing fifth in Group Two, while NBE Club reached seven points in fourth place. The result confirmed the elimination of both sides at the group stage.
Smouha 1–0 El-Hodood
Smouha kept their qualification hopes alive with a narrow 1–0 win over Haras El-Hodood at Alexandria Stadium.
Senegalese striker Pape Badji struck the decisive goal in the 85th minute, converting a late delivery to secure all three points.
The win lifted Smouha to eight points and third place in Group Three, while Haras El-Hodood remained bottom with just one point.
Al-Ahly 4–1 Pharco
Al-Ahly delivered an emphatic performance, defeating Pharco FC 4–1 at Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria.
Hussein El-Shahat starred with a hat-trick, scoring in the 26th, 43rd, and 61st minutes, while Slovenian forward Nejc Gradisar added another in the 52nd minute. Pharco’s Mahmoud Farhat netted a consolation goal in the 66th minute.
The win marked Al-Ahly’s second victory in the competition, lifting them to six points and fourth place in Group One, behind Talae El-Geish (10), Enppi (9), and Pharco (9).
Degla 4–0 Pyramids
Wadi Degla produced a commanding display to thrash Pyramids Youth FC 4–0 at Al-Salam Stadium in Group Two.
Left winger Ahmed Refaat opened the scoring in the 10th minute, before forward Ali Hussein struck twice, in the 39th and 47th minutes, both goals involving Refaat. Right winger Youssef Oya completed the rout in the 52nd minute.
Degla climbed to seven points in third place, while Pyramids slipped to sixth with three points.
Modern 2–0 Petrojet
Modern Sport claimed a 2–0 victory over Petrojet at Petro Sport Stadium in Group Two action.
Cameroonian forward Arnold Eba opened the scoring in the fifth minute, before striker Hossam Hassan doubled the lead early in the second half.
Despite the defeat, Petrojet stayed top of the group with 12 points, while Modern Sport moved up to five points in fifth place.
Contractors 2–1 Enppi
Arab Contractors boosted their qualification hopes with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Enppi at Arab Contractors Stadium.
Ugandan winger Joackiam Ojera struck early in the second minute, before Enppi’s Ahmed El-Agouz equalised in the 68th minute. Ojera then sealed the win with his second goal just two minutes later.
Contractors climbed to eight points in fourth place, while Enppi remained second with nine points.
Al-Masry 1–1 Kahraba
A 1–1 draw settled the Group Three clash between Al-Masry of Port Said and Kahraba Ismailia at the New Suez Stadium.
Right-back Karim El-Eraki put Al-Masry ahead on the stroke of half-time, but forward Ali Suleiman equalised shortly after the break.
Al-Masry remained top of the group with 11 points, while Kahraba Ismailia sat sixth on five points.
Group format
The 21 competing teams have been split into three groups of seven.
Group One includes Al-Ahly, Ceramica Cleopatra, Pharco FC, Talae El-Geish, Enppi, Ghazl El-Mahalla and Arab Contractors.
Group Two features Pyramids FC, NBE Club, Petrojet, El-Gouna, Modern Sport, Ismaily and Wadi Degla.
Group Three comprises Zamalek, Al-Masry, Haras El-Hodood, ZED FC, Al-Ittihad of Alexandria, Smouha and Kahraba Ismailia.
Prize money
The Egypt Capital Cup offers a lucrative prize pool, with the champions set to collect EGP 10 million. The runners-up will receive EGP 4 million, third place EGP 2 million, and fourth place EGP 1.5 million.
The enhanced financial incentives have added extra edge to the competition, intensifying the battle among clubs for a share of the rewards.
Previous winners
Modern Sport lifted the inaugural Egypt Capital Cup after defeating Ghazl El-Mahalla in the final. Ceramica Cleopatra then dominated the tournament, winning three consecutive titles with victories over Al-Masry, Talae El-Geish and NBE Club in successive finals.
