September 28, (THEWILL) – Zamalek emerged victorious in the CAF Super Cup, defeating Al Ahly 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Riyadh on Friday.
The match, held at the Kingdom Arena stadium, saw a capacity crowd of 30,000 spectators witness a tense encounter between the two Egyptian clubs.
The game’s opening goal came from a controversial penalty awarded to Al Ahly in the 44th minute. Wessam Abou Ali converted the spot-kick, sparking protests from Zamalek players that led to a 10-minute delay. Zamalek equalised in the 77th minute when substitute Nasser Mansy scored with his first touch, connecting with Omar Gaber’s cross.
With the scores level after full time, the match went to penalties. Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Awad played a crucial role, saving Yahya Attia Allah’s attempt. Abou Ali’s miss, hitting the post, sealed Al Ahly’s fate and Zamalek’s triumph.
This victory marks Zamalek’s fifth Super Cup win in six attempts, further cementing their status in the annual clash between the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup winners. Despite the loss, Al Ahly remain the most successful club in the Super Cup with eight titles, though they have now suffered four defeats.
The match was marred by controversy, particularly surrounding the first-half penalty decision. The Libyan referee’s use of VAR to award the penalty led to heated protests from Zamalek players, requiring security intervention at half-time to escort the official off the pitch.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
