With Zamalek confirming their second consecutive Egyptian Premier League title earlier in the week and Al Ahly’s spot in the 2022-23 CAF Champions League settled, there was little to play for at the top of the table over the weekend but Pyramids FC wrapped up second place with a 2-0 victory over Ceramica Cleopatra on Friday. Abdallah Said assisted Mohamed Hamdy Sharaf’s opening goal before South African striker Fagrie Lakay finished the victory off in the second half to move beyond reach of Al Ahly.
Ahly’s reserve-heavy squad were defeated by El Gaish 1-0 on Saturday to confirm a third place finish for the first time in 39 years while Zamalek rested plenty of players in a 0-0 draw at Al Masry. Zamalek and Ahly will be Egypt’s representatives at the CAF Champions League next season due to Ahly’s position at the time of the CAF’s deadline when they were in second place.
The relegation battle is where the suspense remains with only one match left to play for all teams following the weekend. Eastern Company, promoted from the second tier for this season, made a desperate push in the second half of the season but saw their relegation confirmed with a 3-2 home defeat to National Bank of Egypt.
Arab Contractors scored a massive 1-0 road victory in Alexandria against Al Ittihad and are even with Ghazl El Mahalla on 35 points, two ahead of El Gouna who are currently in the final relegation spot. Gouna pulled off a miraculous comeback against Future FC with two goals in the final minutes to win 2-1 and will need to defeat Pyramids on the road Tuesday to have any chance at overtaking Mahalla or Arab Contractors and escape the drop.
Highlights from a few of the games described are below.
Ceramica Cleopatra 0-2 Pyramids FC
El Gaish 1-0 Al Ahly
El Gouna 2-1 Future FC
Eastern Company 2-3 National Bank of Egypt
