Ahly shade Zamalek to bolster title challenge

Al-Ahly edged fierce rivals Zamalek 1-0 Sunday in the biggest African domestic football fixture to strengthen their push for a fifth consecutive Egyptian league title.

The only goal came nine minutes from full-time at the Cairo Stadium and was an Angolan affair with striker Flavio Amado heading in a cross from midfielder Felisberto ‘Gilberto’ Amaral.

Victory moved the Cairo ‘Red Devils’ to within one point of leaders Petrojet and the six-time African Champions League winners have two matches in hand on the surprise pacesetters.

Ahly achieved maximum points despite a depleted defence with Wael Gomaa suspended and captain Shady Mohamed forced to withdraw minutes before the kick-off after a warm-up injury.

Zamalak, who have been African champions five times, seem out of contention after their third league loss of the season left them eight points adrift of Ahly having played two fixtures more.

The ‘White Knights’ have lacked a permanent coach since German Reiner Hollmann was sacked last month and Cairo reports have linked Swiss Michel Decastel to the post.

Rivalry between the Cairo clubs stretches back to 1911 and no other national fixture in Africa commands the same interest with the fixture broadcast across North Africa and the Middle East.