Osama Faisal scores twice as National Bank of Egypt beat Ghazl El Mahalla

Osama Faisal scored twice on his return to the Egyptian Premier League as National Bank of Egypt beat Ghazl El Mahalla 3-1 in the fourth round of the competition.

The 25-year-old striker made his first league appearance of the season after recovering from the injury that had kept him out of action.

Faisal opened the scoring in the 16th minute, converting a cross created by Togo international Yaw Annor. The goal was the sixth time Faisal had scored from an assist by Annor across all competitions.

He struck again three minutes after half-time to put National Bank of Egypt 3-0 ahead. Faisal produced an excellent finish from inside the 18-yard box, sending his shot into the net to complete his brace and add the third goal for his side.

It was Faisal’s first two-goal performance in a single Egyptian Premier League match for 568 days. His previous league double came in a fixture against Smouha during the 2024-25 season.

The result also took Faisal’s Egyptian Premier League tally to 36 goals in 149 appearances. He has now scored in five consecutive seasons in the competition.

National Bank of Egypt’s victory was their second in a row and moved them on to six points. They are ninth in the Egyptian Premier League table after four rounds.

Ghazl El Mahalla remain at the bottom without a point and have yet to win a match this season.

Faisal’s return therefore provided the defining moment of the game, with his two finishes helping National Bank of Egypt build an advantage that Ghazl El Mahalla could not overturn. His opening goal arrived during a first half in which Annor again proved important in creating opportunities, while the second confirmed the striker’s personal milestone after his long wait for another league brace.

The appearance marked a significant step in Faisal’s comeback from injury. Having missed the start of the current campaign, he returned to the starting picture by contributing twice in a match that lifted his team into the top half of the table.

For National Bank of Egypt, the win continued a positive run after their previous victory, while Ghazl El Mahalla’s difficult start continued. After four matches, they remain without points or a victory, leaving them at the foot of the standings.