Ziko hopes Al Ahly-Zamalek derby result helps Pyramids’ title challenge

Pyramids midfielder Mostafa Ziko is hoping Sunday’s Egyptian Premier League meeting between Al Ahly and Zamalek produces a result that benefits his side.

Al Ahly and Zamalek will face each other in the sixth round of the league, with both clubs currently two points behind leaders Pyramids.

“The league is still a long way from being decided,” Ziko told MBC Masr 2. “We have a difficult match against Ceramica, and we will try to win the league title.

“We are focusing on each game individually, while we also have important matches against our rivals.”

Pyramids will meet Ceramica in the same round in a fixture between the teams who finished second and fourth in last season’s Egyptian Premier League.

Pyramids lead the standings with 15 points from five matches. Al Ahly and Zamalek are level on 13 points, while Ceramica sit fourth on 12.

Ziko, whose full name is Mostafa Abdelraouf Ziko, returned to action for Pyramids after recovering from the injury that kept him out of the club’s matches during the opening three rounds of the campaign.

The 27-year-old also scored for Egypt in their 5-0 victory over South Sudan in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

He added: “Derby matches have no favourites, and the better team does not always win. We hope the result will be in Pyramids’ favour.”