Ahly and Zamalek will face off in the United Arab Emirates after the managing committee of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced that the domestic Super Cup will be played in the Gulf country 20 February. "EFA board member Mohamed Fadl arrived in the UAE 3 January, making an investigative visit to suggested stadiums to host the Egypt s Super Cup game," read a statement by EFA. "The EFA crew headed by Fadl chose Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium to host the game that will be played on Thursday, 20 February, with the attendance of 37,000 fans,” the statement added. EFA also announced the Cairo derby game between Ahly and Zamalek in the Egyptian Premier League will be postponed from 19 February to be played 24 February. "The referee crew will use VAR technology during their mission in officiating Egypt s Super Cup game," the EFA statement added. It s the fourth time for UAE to host Egypt s Super Cup having organised the event in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In the summer of 2015, Ahly defeated perrenial rivals Zamalek 3-2 in an exciting game at Al Ain s Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. In 2016, Zamalek defeated Ahly 3-1 after penalty kicks following a goalless draw at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium. In the winter of 2018, Ahly defeated Masry 1-0 at Al Ain s Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. Ahly are the record holders of the Super Cup with 11 titles. Zamalek have won it three times.

Egyptian Football Association (EFA) member Mohamed Fadl announced Thursday that VAR, video assistant referee technology, will be used in stadiums when the second round of the Egyptian Premier League starts. "We will rent VAR technology equipment for three and a half years, then we will own it permanently," Fadl told a television programme. "VAR technology will be officially used when the second round of the league starts,” he added. The first round of the Egyptian Premier League is scheduled to finish 19 February with the Cairo derby between Ahly and Zamalek. "We finalised the process as we received the machines to train our referees on the new technology,” Fadl revealed. "The EFA will pay all the costs of the VAR technology, and a trainer for referees will arrive in Cairo 12 January to train 54 referees. After 28 days of training, we will be ready to use the technology," Fadl said. Egyptian referees have come under stern criticism in the past few seasons and most clubs have requested the implementation of VAR technology to avoid obvious mistakes that overshadowed several games. Video assistant referee technology allows match officials to review decisions made by the head referee. The VAR team, stationed in a video operation room, automatically check every on-field referee decision under the four reviewable categories.

Ahly and national team winger Hussein El-Shahat will miss the team s trip to Zimbabwe ahead of the fourth round game of the African Champions League against FC Platinum, scheduled for Saturday. Ahly key player El-Shahat was the closest player from the team s injury list to join the travelling squad to Zimbabwe, but Ahly decided not to take the risk and to let him rest. "Both tactical and medical staff preferred not to include El-Shahat to the players travelling to Zimbabwe to give him more time to recover from his injury," Ahly s assistant coach Sami Komsan told the club s official website. The 28-year-old winger who joined the Reds last season participated with Ahly in 15 matches in all competitions, scoring eight goals. The Cairo giants will be fighting for their third victory in Zimbabwe, as they occupy second place with six points in Group B of the Confederation of African Football s Champions League. "Platinum s loss against Etoile du Sahel at home doesn t mean they are a weak team, especially that Zimbabwe s champion was dominating the game. Ahly will play the game as usual to get the three points," said Komsan. Tunisia s Etoile Sportive du Sahel lead the group with six points, Al-Hilal of Sudan is third with also six points, while FC Platinum lie at the bottom of the group with no points.

Zamalek s assistant coach Samy El-Shesheny slammed the intense schedule of the Egyptian Premier League, insisting it is a burden on clubs participating in the domestic competition. Since the season start in September, the Egyptian league matches almost take place every four days; a fact that puts more pressure on the coaches amid the sudden injuries and suspensions, according to El-Shesheny. "The intense schedule is torturing for the clubs. Ahly will be losing defender Saad Samir for the rest of the season after damaging his Achilles tendon, while many other players suffer different crucial injuries," El-Shesheny told Time Sports TV channel. "The schedule is intense to end the completion early, and you can t go on if you didn t prepare a large number of players for your match selections," he added. In Sunday s league win over Tanta, Zamalek coach Patrice Carteron made wholesale changes to his line-up, opting to rest a handful of key players before Friday s African Champions League game at home to Zambia s Zesco United. "The season is full of commitments like the league, Egypt Cup, Champions League and African Super Cup," explained El-Shesheny. "What happed against Tanta [deploying a second string team) was a big risk from Carteron, but we all stand behind him as some players needed rest and others wanted the opportunity to play," he concluded. Zamalek currently lie third at the league table with 21 points from 11 matches, nine points behind champions Ahly who played 10 matches so far.

New signing Mahmoud Kahraba could make his debut when Ahly meet debutants FC Masr in on Sunday as they aim to extend their impressive run in the Egyptian Premier League. The Egyptian international winger joined Ahly in the winter transfer window after ending his contract with Portuguese side Aves in a headline-grabbing deal. Kahraba is still subject of a complaint from Ahly s Cairo foes Zamalek, where he had played since 2015. Zamalek said the 25-year-old had breached his contract by abruptly leaving the club last summer to join Aves. He argues that his deal had already run out when he departed. The Egyptian Football Association said Kahraba is eligible to play after receiving his international clearance on Saturday, a timely boost for Ahly who are already missing influential winger Ramadan Sobhi because of a hamstring injury. "The player will wear the number 26 shirt in domestic competitions," Ahly said in a statement on their official website. The Red Devils are enjoying a great run of form under Swiss coach Rene Weiler, winning their first nine games to sit top with 27 points, two ahead of second-placed Arab Contractors, who played two games more. They have also proved far superior to all of their opponents so far, scoring a staggering 25 goals and conceding just once. FC Masr have produced some convincing displays in their maiden top-flight appearance. They lie 13th in the 18-team table with 11 points from as many games.

Cairo Giants Ahly started the new year in style after defeating Maqassa 2-0 in a league game at El-Salam stadium on Wednesday, claiming their ninth consecutive win in the domestic league this season. Tunisian fullback Ali Maaloul opened the scoring in the 74th minute, while midfielder Mohamed Magdi doubled the lead six minutes later. Ahly are at the top of the league table with a maximum 27 points, two points ahead of second-placed Arab Contractors, who played two games more. Maqassa striker Amr Marei had the chance to give his side an early lead in the 2nd minute when he received a nice pass from midfielder Mohamed Mossaad that made him clear, but his effort went wide. After Marei s chance, Ahly controlled the game in terms of possession but without making a real threat. Maqassa Ethiopian winger Shemeles Bekele squandered another chance when he found himself clear, failing to control the ball while the goal was at his mercy. On the other hand, Ahly s Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng squandered a good opportunity just before the break, his close-range shot going wide. The second half was different for Ahly, who intensified their attacks, especially after Rene Weiler s decision to introduce veteran winger Walid Soliman and Angolan winger Geraldo two minutes before the hour-mark. The duo made a quick impact when Geraldo gained a penalty converted by Ali Maaloul in the 74th minute. Six minutes later, a poor clearance from Maqassa s defence allowed Mohamed Magdi to double the lead. Marwan Mohsen failed to make it 3-0 after squandering a golden opportunity in injury time.

The question now is who can stop Ahly s relentless march towards a fifth consecutive Egyptian Premier League triumph. The Red Devils, who entertain struggling Maqassa on Wednesday, have made their best start to a season in over a decade and it s hard to imagine them giving away the title. They won their opening eight matches, recording comprehensive victories in most of them as their main challengers, including perennial Cairo rivals Zamalek, faltered badly. They scored a staggering 23 goals and conceded only once, underlining their strength and the gulf in class between Egypt s most successful outfit and their competitors. Ahly sit top with a maximum 24 points, two ahead of second-placed and surprise package Arab Contractors, who played two games more. Maqassa are unlikely to pose a serious threat to Ahly, given their poor start to the season. The club, who are managed by former Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma striker Mido, lie 15th in the 18-team table with nine points, just one clear of the relegation zone. Pressure is mounting on Mido, although club officials reiterated that his job was safe. Ahly will once again have to do without some key players against Maqassa due to injuries, including attacking midfielder Hussein El-Shahat, Nigerian forward Junior Ajayi and influential winger Ramadan Sobhi, who faces several weeks on the sidelines. Defender Ayman Ashraf also misses out due to automatic suspension.

At the start of this decade, clashes between Arsenal and Manchester United were still potentially title-deciding affairs, but when the pair meet on New Year s Day at the Emirates they will have more modest goals in mind. United have not won a league title since Alex Ferguson s final season in charge seven years ago, while Arsenal have to go back to 2004 for the last time they raised the Premier League trophy, during the reign of Arsene Wenger. Both clubs entered this season hoping to finish in the top four, but while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has guided United to fifth place, just a point off the Champions League spots, Arsenal languish in 12th, 11 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea after their home defeat to Frank Lampard s side on Sunday. Arsenal s poor form led to the dismissal of their Spanish manager Unai Emery and the arrival of his compatriot, former Gunners midfielder Mikel Arteta. Having left his role as Pep Guardiola s assistant at Manchester City, Arteta is talking big despite beginning with a draw at Bournemouth before Sunday s loss. "We are the biggest football club in England, and we have to play a little bit with that arrogance, that belief," Arteta told Sky Sports, urging the club s fans to make the Emirates a fortress again. "This stadium has to create fear again. I used to hate coming here as an opponent, and we need to use that power. The opponent must be uncomfortable playing here," he said. "It was incredible to play here as an Arsenal player. It s one of the most beautiful, exciting stadiums in the world. When this crowd gets going, and you feel them right behind the team, it s an incredible place," he added. United head to London on the back of wins over Newcastle and Burnley, and with French forward Anthony Martial and England s Marcus Rashford having struck five times in those games. French midfielder Paul Pogba is expected to be part of the United squad for the clash with the Gunners as he continues his return from a three-month injury absence. Runaway leaders Liverpool host Sheffield United on Thursday, looking to maintain their unbeaten run and 13-point advantage over second-placed Leicester City. Brendan Rodgers Foxes are at Newcastle, while third-placed Manchester City have a tricky test at home to Everton, who have won both their games since appointing Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager. David Moyes begins his second spell as West Ham United manager, following the dismissal of Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, when the Hammers host fellow strugglers Bournemouth.

Egypt defender Baher Elmohamady says he wants to leave his club Ismaily during the winter transfer window, adding that he currently has two offers, one from a European club and another from a Gulf team. "I want to leave Isamily in January," the 23-year-old player told ON Sport TV channel on Sunday. Elmohamady, who came from Isamily s youth ranks, made nine league appearances out of 10 with the Dervishes so far this season, netting one goal. "I want the club s management to accept my departure. Playing abroad will be beneficial for me, for the team and for the national team," explained the international player, who appeared with the Pharaohs at last summer s African Cup of Nations at home. "I received two irresistible offers ahead of the African Cup, but I refused them as I respected the wishes of Isamily officials at the time." "I am still young and I need the experience at this time. I need the support of everyone to succeed," he concluded. Ismaily currently lie at ninth place of the Egyptian Premier League with 13 points from 10 matches, 11 points behind leaders Ahly.

Ahly defender Saad Samir, who recently returned to action after recovering from injury, damaged his Achilles tendon during the 2-0 win over Zimbabwe s Platinum in the African Champions League late on Saturday. "Medical scans have showed that Saad Samir suffers from a rupture in his Achilles tendon," Ahly s doctor Khaled Mahmoud told the club s official website on Sunday. "The player will undergo surgery during the coming days and the operation will determine how long he will stay out of action." The 30-year-old defender left the pitch of Ahly s game against Platinum in the 3rd round of the group B games only 15 minutes from the start after sustaining a serious injury. Samir recently returned to the squad after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for more than three months. "Samir s injury is more serious than Ajayi s, as he recently returned to action after recovering from another injury," Ahly coach Rene Weiler told the post game press conference. The record eight-time winners Ahly, who are eyeing their first Champions League crown since 2013, moved level on six points with Al-Hilal and Tunisia s Etoile Sahel after three matches in what could be a tight race for the two quarter-final tickets.

Egypt s Zamalek ended their 16-year African drought by winning the Confederation Cup in 2019, with their campaign not short on trademark drama. Zamalek fans often complain that even when their side win, they have to endure nerve-jangling moments. This was exactly the case as the team clinched their first continental title since winning the African Super Cup in 2003. It all started in the group stage when Zamalek failed to win any of their first three games, which included two disappointing draws and an embarrassing 4-2 loss at Kenya s Gor Mahia. Having been written off by many following their poor start, Zamalek roared back in style, winning two of their remaining games and drawing the other to qualify as their group leaders. Further drama unfolded in the semi-final encounter against Tunisia s Etoile Sahel. In the first leg away from home, keeper Mahmoud Gennseh was red-carded with few minutes remaining and with the team having already made all three substitutions. With Zamalek protecting a slender 1-0 first-leg advantage, the match was on a knife edge. Striker Omar El-Said wore the keeper s gloves and stood between the sticks as Etoile threw everything forward. But a spirited display by Zamalek s rearguard ensured nothing came El-Said s way, with the team advancing to the final. However, more problems followed. With Gennesh serving a one-game suspension and his stand-in Emad El-Sayed sustaining an injury, Zamalek had to play the final first-leg against Morocco s RS Berkane with only one keeper at their disposal. Fortunately for them, Omar Salah came through the match unscathed but conceded a stoppage-time goal. The final act of the drama occurred in the second leg as Zamalek sought to overturn a 1-0 deficit. Berkane defended doggedly but a moment of VAR intervention in the second half proved crucial as a handball which was not originally spotted by the referee let them down. Mahmoud Alaa dispatched the resulting spot kick to level the aggregate score and Zamalek eventually prevailed in the shootout to win their first title of the Confederation Cup, Africa s secondary club competition.

Zamalek extended their winless domestic run to three matches after settling for another 0-0 draw against El-Entag El-Harby in the Egyptian Premier League on Tuesday. The White Knights, whose title hopes are all but over, could not finish off their chances for a second consecutive game despite their array of attacking talents. The likes of Moroccan forward Achraf Bencharki, Tunisian midfielder Ferjani Sassi and striker Mostafa Mohamed could not make the most of the gaps left by an adventurous approach from Entag. Zamalek remain fourth in the table with 15 points, a massive nine points behind leaders and defending champions Ahly, who still have a game in hand. Entag are fifth, also on 15 points. The Cairo giants would realistically need to focus on finishing second to earn an African Champions League spot. They are seven points behind second-placed Arab Contractors, who played a game more. Better side Although Zamalek spurned a golden chance to go ahead in the first half when Bencharki broke clear from the halfway line, only to fire straight at the advancing keeper, El-Entag were the better side. Striker Bassem Morsi, who is on loan at Entag from Zamalek, could have scored after 20 minutes when he was found unmarked by a superb flick to the far post, but his weak effort was easily collected by keeper Mohamed Abou-Gabal. Abou-Gabal was on alert again two minutes before the break to parry a shot from Alaa Salama from a tight angle, with Moussa Diawara blasting the rebound high over. Zamalek struggled to break down El-Entag in the second half but still had some decent efforts. Their best one came with 12 minutes remaining when deep-lying forward Youssef Ibrahim was released by a defence-splitting pass but his tame shot was thwarted by the keeper.

Zamalek President Mortada Mansour has been suspended from football activities in three matches and fined EGP 100,000 as a disciplinary measure, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Tuesday. "Mansour s ban comes after his insulting statements against the head of the refereeing committee and the referee of Zamalek s latest league match against Smouha," read a statement by the EFA s disciplinary committee. The Whites were held to a 0-0 draw against Alexandrian club Smouha on Friday, their second draw since the season start, to stumble again in the Egyptian Premier League race. Meanwhile, Smouha s President Mohamed Farag Amer was also suspended for one match and fined EGP 50,000 for his offensive declarations against the referee of the league match against Aswan on 15 December. The disciplinary committee also censured Ahly s football director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz for his recent criticism of the referees, warning that he would be punished if he repeated the same actions. Champions Ahly currently lead the league table with 24 points from eight matches, while Zamalek lie fourth with 14 points also with eight matches.

Egypt s national squash team smashed second seeds England 2-0 in the WSF Men s World Team Squash Championship final early Sunday to claim their fifth title in Washington, DC. Karim Abdel Gawad defeated Declan James 3-2 (9-11, 11-4, 8-11., 11-9, 12-10) in 107 minutes to give Egypt a lead over England in the tournament s final.

Egyptian Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah and Zamalek midfielder Tarek Hamed have been included in Confederation of African Football (CAF) shortlist of nominees for the 28th edition of its annual football awards. The 31-year-old Hamed is competing in the African Interclubs Player of the Year award while Liverpool s Salah vies for the senior African Player of the Year award. The CAF said in a statement Sunday that the winners will be revealed 7 January at the Citadel Azure in Hurghada, Egypt. The CAF awards is annual event to celebrate African footballers and officials who have distinguished themselves during the year. "The Interclubs Player of the Year will be decided upon by the head coaches and captains of the group phase of the current season of CAF Interclubs competitions," read a statement on the official CAF website. Full shortlist of nominees for CAF Awards 2019: African Player of the Year Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool) Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City) Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool) African Interclubs Player of the Year Anice Badri (Tunisia & Esperance) Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek) Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah) African Youth Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund) Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria & Villarreal) Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Lille) African Men s Coach of the Year Aliou Cisse (Senegal - Senegal) Djamel Belmadi (Algeria - Algeria) Moïne Chaâbani (Tunisia - Esperance) African Men s National Team of the Year Algeria Madagascar Senegal African Women s Player of the Year Ajara Nchout (Cameroon & Valerenga) Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona) Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Beijing Phoenix FC) African Women s Coach of the Year Alain Djeumfa (Cameroon) Desiree Ellis (South Africa) Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria) African Women s National Team of the Year Cameroon Nigeria South Africa

Roger Federer arrives for his interview at the precise appointed time, steering his white sedan into a parking spot in an industrial area dotted by art galleries about 15 minutes from his luxury apartment in this home-away-from-home. After obliging a selfie request from someone on the street, Federer makes his way up to a second-story loft area and sits. He crosses his legs, kneads his right calf and winces. “Just started training. I m surprised I could walk the stairs as good as I have,” Federer says with a laugh. “My calves are, like, killing me. Just getting back into it. The shock on the body is, I don t want to say immense, every time, but I ve been on vacation for two weeks. The shock just hits you hard.”

Barcelona s record-breaking teenage sensation Ansu Fati has the ability and character to make an impact against Real Madrid in Wednesday s Clasico at the Camp Nou, says club great Carles Puyol. Fati became Barca s youngest-ever league scorer in August when he netted against Osasuna aged 16 and last week became the youngest scorer in Champions League history by striking the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan.

Talae El-Gaish stunned Zamalek 3-2 at home on Monday to grab their first victory of the season. Goals from Mohamed Shehata, Nasser Mansi and Ahmed Samir wrapped up the victory for the military side while Mostafa Mohamed and Karim Bambou scored the Whites consolation goals. The victory takes El-Gaish away from the danger zone to the 12th place with 7 points after seven games. After three straight victories, Patrice Carteron s winning debut came to an end as Zamalek dropped to the fourth place with 13 points, five behind leaders Ahly who have a game in hand.

Thirteen-times winners Real Madrid were drawn against English champions Manchester City while title-holders Liverpool must face Diego Simeone s Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 following Monday s draw. Real Madrid ended up in pot two after finishing second in their group behind Paris St Germain and City were the unlucky team to be paired with them when their name was pulled out at UEFA headquarters. City, who will be at home in the second leg, have yet to beat the Spanish side with two draws and two defeats in their previous four meetings. However, their manager Pep Guardiola has a much more encouraging record with nine wins, four draws and four defeats in 17 meetings as coach of Barcelona and then Bayern Munich. "It s a difficult one," said Manchester City s director of football Txiki Begiristain. "Real Madrid are the best. We want to be the best so we have to try and beat them. It s always a pleasure to play against Real Madrid. We know them very well. They know our manager." Liverpool and Atletico Madrid s previous meetings have produced one win for each team and two draws with both teams scoring four goals. Only Europe s biggest five leagues -- England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain -- were represented in the draw and 11 of the 16 teams also reached the knockout stages last season. Both England and Spain managed to get all four of their teams into knockout stages. Elsewhere, Serie A champions Juventus will face French side Olympique Lyonnais and PSG will play Borussia Dortmund. Barcelona were pitted against an unpredictable Napoli, the first time the two sides have ever met. Napoli fired coach Carlo Ancelotti immediately after beating Genk to make sure of their place in the last 16 and replaced him with Gennaro Gattuso, who has never coached in the Champions League before. "A great team, a great challenge, two fascinating races. We will face them without fear," he said. Jose Mourinho s Tottenham Hotspur side, who reached the final last season, will play RB Leipzig, who are in the knockout stages for the first time, while Chelsea were drawn against Bayern Munich. Despite their erratic domestic form, Bayern were the only team to complete the group stage with a 100% record. Serie A side Atalanta, who reached the last 16 on their first participation in the Champions League despite losing their first three group matches, were drawn against Valencia.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Juventus bounced back from their first defeat of the season to beat Udinese 3-1 and move top of Serie A on Sunday. Ronaldo struck twice in the first half to make it five goals in four games as champions Juve move one point ahead of leaders Inter Milan ahead of their trip to off-form Fiorentina later on Sunday. Maurizio Sarri s side had taken just one point from their last two league games, falling 3-1 to Lazio in Rome last weekend after a 2-2 draw against Sassuolo the previous week. But Portuguese star Ronaldo tapped in his first after nine minutes at the Allianz Stadium, and burst through to finish off a Gonzalo Higuain cross on 36 minutes. Leonardo Bonucci sealed the three points just before the break when he headed in from close range. Ignacio Pussetto pulled a goal back for 17th-placed Udinese four minutes into injury time with his close range effort beating Gianluigi Buffon in the Juventus goal. Juventus play their final Serie A game before the winter break at Sampdoria on Wednesday, before a rematch against Lazio in the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia next weekend. Atalanta fell 2-1 at Bologna just days after the Champions League newcomers sealed their place in the competition s last 16 despite losing their first three matches. Rodrigo Palacio tapped in the first after 12 minutes for Bologna off a rebound after a Riccardo Orsolini effort came off the post. Andrea Poli nodded in the second eight minutes after the break, before Ruslan Malinovskyi connected with a Musa Barrow cross to pull a goal back on the hour mark. AC Milan lack party spirit Atalanta failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority late on, as Bologna played the last five minutes a man down after Brazilian defender Danilo was sent off for two bookable offences. Gian Piero Gasperini s side are sixth on 28 points, one point off the Champions League places, with European rivals Cagliari, Lazio and Roma still to play this weekend. AC Milan were held to a goalless draw against Sassuolo at the San Siro as the former European giants marked their 120th anniversary in tepid style. Theo Hernandez had a goal ruled out after half an hour following a Franck Kessie handball in the buildup, with Rafael Leao hitting the crossbar and the post. Stefano Pioli s side failed to make it three wins in a row and sit 10th with Sassuolo four places and five points below. Hellas Verona battled back from three goals down with all three substitutes scoring in a 15-minute second-half spell to hold Torino 3-3. Torino had taken a comfortable lead at the Stadio Bentegodi after Christian Ansaldi scored a brace with Alex Berenguer also on target for the visitors. But the hosts hit back with three goals after 69 minutes from players who all came off the bench. Giampaolo Pazzini converted a penalty on 69 minutes after Gleison Bremer was deemed to have used his elbow to block the ball. Pazzini was then involved in the second with Valerio Verre smashing in off a rebound, before Mariusz Stepinski added a third by pounching on a defensive error from Ola Aina to finish off. Torino are ninth, with Verona two points back in 12th, in the hosts final match before the winter break. Torino next play SPAL on Saturday.

Defending champions Ahly maintained their 100 percent start to the Egyptian Premier League to move top with an easy 3-0 victory over Wadi Degla on Wednesday. Ramadan Sobhi continued his rich vein of form to open the scoring early in the second half, taking his tally to five league goals in as many games. Substitute Walid Azaro doubled the lead on 72 minutes before Ahmed El-Sheikh, who also came on in the second half, wrapped up the win with a stoppage-time strike. Ahly s fifth victory from as many games lifted them to the top with 15 points, two ahead of second-placed Ittihad who played a game more. Degla s struggles persisted as they lie at the bottom with only three points from seven matches. The hosts adopted their trademark bold tactics, with their high backline exposing them to repeated Ahly attacks, which yielded two clear-cut chances in the first half. Veteran goalie Mohamed Abdel-Monsef, 42, charged out to thwart Ramadan Sobhi and Junior Ajayi in one-on-ones as Degla kept their fancied opponents at bay. But their resistance did not last for long as Ahly broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute. Abdel-Monsef could only push a cross into the path of Sobhi inside the area, with the in-form winger skipping past his challenger and beating the keeper with a low, close-range shot at his near post. Degla spurned a golden chance to level the score five minutes past the hour mark when Tunisian forward Rafik Kabou broke clear, only for Ahly keeper Mohamed El-Shennawi to rush out and smother his shot with his leg. But any comeback hopes they had were demolished when Azaro added the third with a simple tap-in from a Hussein El-Shahat cross. Fellow substitute El-Sheikh volleyed home from close range in stoppage time as Ahly secured a routine win.