Al Ahly moved provisionally top of the Egyptian Premier League on Sunday evening, beating city rivals Zamalek 2-0 in the first Cairo derby of the season, with goals from Mohamed Hany and substitute Mounsef Bakrar settling the contest at the Cairo International Stadium.
Hany broke the deadlock seven minutes before half-time, driving a long-range effort at goal that took a deflection off a Zamalek defender and looped past the goalkeeper. Zamalek pushed for an equaliser soon after the restart and created their clearest opening of the match when forward Ahmed Sherif's close-range effort was kept out by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, according to a match report published by Al Ahly's official website.
Al Ahly coach Hussein Ammouta made his first change just after the hour, sending on Omar El Saie and Algerian forward Mounsef Bakrar in place of Emam Ashour and Youssef Benjdida. The substitution proved decisive: Bakrar settled the contest in the 80th minute with a low shot from outside the penalty area. Ammouta made a further double substitution late on, withdrawing wingers Achraf Bencharki and Zizo for Taher Mohamed Taher and Hussein El Shahat as Al Ahly closed out the win.
It was the first league meeting between Egypt's two most decorated clubs in the 2026-27 season, played days after both squads returned from the October international break. The result lifted Al Ahly to 16 points from six matches - five wins and a draw - and top of the table, provisionally ahead of Pyramids FC, who had won all five of their opening fixtures to sit second on 15 points with a game still to play. Zamalek, who won last season's title - their 15th championship, sealed on the final day with a win over Ceramica Cleopatra - remained on 13 points and slipped to third.
The win also eased pressure on Ammouta, whose position had reportedly come under scrutiny in the build-up to the derby. Former player and television presenter Ahmed Shobier had said before the match, according to a report by AfricaSoccer, that a source inside Al Ahly had said the Moroccan coach would stay in charge until the end of the season regardless of the result against Zamalek.
Speaking afterwards, Ammouta said the result carried weight beyond the three points on offer.
The win gives you only three points, even though the match was difficult and came against a strong opponent. But psychologically, it is an important victory that gives the players and the fans a great deal of confidence. — Hussein Ammouta, Al Ahly head coach
He credited his side's organisation for the win, describing the tactical commitment as "more than excellent", and said the timing of the fixture, straight after the international break, had made the victory harder to earn. "We prepared in the right way, especially mentally," he said. "We know the atmosphere surrounding a match against Zamalek creates a great deal of pressure."
Asked about the derby atmosphere, Ammouta - who has also worked in Morocco, home of the Casablanca derby - declined to rank the two fixtures against each other.
Pressure is always present in derby matches, any coach or player who wants to avoid pressure and cannot bear it cannot play in a high-level team or compete for titles. — Hussein Ammouta, Al Ahly head coach
He added that supporters of both clubs had added to the occasion, saying Al Ahly and Zamalek fans "presented wonderful artistic paintings before and during today's match", and that "the fans are the secret to the success of derby matches everywhere", according to comments carried by AfricaSoccer.
Al Ahly's stay at the top may be brief. Pyramids, still unbeaten this season, were due to play their sixth-round fixture away to Ceramica Cleopatra on Monday; a win would take them to 18 points and back above Al Ahly. Zamalek's next assignment is continental, hosting Rwanda's APR FC in the CAF Champions League qualifiers on 16 October, before Al Ahly return to league action at home to Olympic du Qanah on 21 October, according to fixture details carried by Goal.com.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score in the Al Ahly-Zamalek derby?
Al Ahly won 2-0 at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday 11 October 2026. Mohamed Hany scored in the 39th minute and substitute Mounsef Bakrar added a second in the 80th.
Where do Al Ahly, Zamalek and Pyramids stand in the table?
After the derby, Al Ahly led the Egyptian Premier League on 16 points from six matches. Pyramids FC were second on 15 points, having won all five of their matches to that point with their sixth-round fixture still to be played. Zamalek, the reigning champions, dropped to third on 13 points.
What did Al Ahly's coach say after the match?
Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta said the win was psychologically important for his players and supporters, and praised what he called the team's tactical discipline, which he described as "more than excellent" during the derby.
What are Al Ahly and Zamalek's next fixtures?
Zamalek host Rwanda's APR FC in the CAF Champions League qualifiers on 16 October, while Al Ahly's next league match is at home to Olympic du Qanah on 21 October. Pyramids, meanwhile, were due to play Ceramica Cleopatra on 12 October with the chance to reclaim top spot.
