A poor performance and defeat against Djibouti’s AS Arta last weekend in the CAF Confederation Cup revealed the difficulties that Zamalek are facing but The White Castle showed improvement upon their 2023-24 Egyptian Premier League season debut on Thursday. Zamalek nearly escaped the 30 June Stadium with a victory but were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after Pyramids attacker Ramadan Sobhi leveled late for the hosts.
Things did not go as planned for a Pyramids team who made some high priced signings to push for their first league title. Veteran playmaker Abdallah Said put Pyramids into the lead in the first half but Zamalek substitutes Nabil Dunga and Ibrahima Ndiaye scored within six minutes of each other to put their team into a second half lead. Sobhi came on after the goal from Ndiaye and fired in a volley for the equalizer in the 77th minute after Walid El Karti cleverly headed the ball into his path.
There were also winning starts for Future FC, Al Ittihad Alexandria, El Dakhleya and newly promoted Baladiyat El Mahalla on Wednesday and Thursday. Baladiyat, who returned to the top tier of Egyptian football after a seventeen year absence while rivals Ghazl El Mahalla suffered relegation, won 2-0 at Arab Contractors. Future FC won 2-0 at Pharco FC and Al Ittihad defeated Ceramica Cleopatra by a 1-0 score.
The scores from Wednesday and Thursday are below followed by highlights from four matches including the duel between Pyramids and Zamalek.
Scores
Thursday
Pyramids FC 2-2 Zamalek
Al Ittihad 1-0 Ceramica Cleopatra
Pharco FC 0-2 Future FC
Wednesday
Arab Contractors 0-2 Baladiyat El Mahalla
Smouha 1-1 El Gouna
El Dakhleya 1-0 ENPPI
Highlights
Pyramids FC 2-2 Zamalek
Pharco FC 0-2 Future FC
Al Ittihad 1-0 Ceramica Cleopatra
Arab Contractors 0-2 Baladiyat El Mahalla