Imam Ashour, the midfielder for Al Ahly, emerged as the standout player in his team’s victory against Zamalek in the final match of the Egypt Cup.
Al Ahly secured the Egypt Cup title with a 2-0 win over Zamalek in a fiercely contested final held on Friday at Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo.
The match began with Zamalek fielding a lineup consisting of Mohamed Awad, Ahmed Fatouh, Hamza El-Mathlouthi, Hussam Abdelmajid, Omar Gaber, Nabil Emad Donga, Abdullah El-Said, Youssef Obama, Mostafa Shalaby, Nasser Mansi, and Ahmed Mustafa “Zizo.”
Meanwhile, Al Ahly started the game with a lineup featuring Mustafa Shobier, Mohamed Hani, Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, Ramy Rabia, Ali Maaloul, Karim Nedved, Imam Ashour, Amr El-Sulaya, Hussein El-Shahat, Mahmoud Kahraba, and Percy Tau.
From the outset, both teams displayed offensive intent, seeking an early breakthrough. The sixth minute saw Al Ahly’s Amr El-Sulaya’s shot deflected by the defense, resulting in a corner kick.
In the eighth minute, a penalty appeal by Al Ahly’s Imam Ashour was waved off by the referee after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
The game remained evenly poised until the second half when Al Ahly’s Amr El-Sulaya found the back of the net in the 84th minute, assisted by Mohamed Magdy Afsha.
The goal was confirmed after a VAR check, putting Al Ahly in the lead.
Despite Zamalek’s attempts to equalize, Al Ahly’s defense held firm, with goalkeeper Mustafa Shobeir making crucial saves.
In the dying moments of the game, Al Ahly sealed their victory with a second goal from Mohamed Magdy Afsha in the 94th minute, securing their triumph in the Egypt Cup final.
Imam Ashour’s exceptional performance earned him the Man of the Match award, highlighting his pivotal role in Al Ahly’s success.
With this victory, Al Ahly clinched their 14th Egypt Cup title, further solidifying their status as one of Egypt’s premier football clubs.
