Drama continues in Nile League as Pyramids and Zamalek drop points

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The excitement in the Nile Egyptian League continued this week as Pyramids suffered their second consecutive defeat, losing the top spot in the standings, while Zamalek were held to a third straight draw.

National Bank 4-2 Pyramids

National Bank pulled off a stunning 4-2 victory over Pyramids, marking their fourth win in the last five matches across all competitions.

The game saw a fast start, with Mohamed Ibrahim opening the scoring in the 4th minute after a cross from Issahaku Yakubu. Osama Faisal doubled the lead in the 21st minute with a strike from inside the box.

That goal took Faisal to 11 goals this season, making him joint top scorer in the league alongside Zamalek’s striker Nasser Mansi and Al Ahly’s midfielder Emam Ashour.

Pyramids responded in the second half, with Ibrahim Adel scoring a brilliant goal in the 48th minute before Marwan Hamdy headed home the equaliser in the 74th minute.

But the National Bank side shocked their opponents with two late goals: Ahmed Madbouly fired in a long-range effort and Yaw Annor sealed the win with a precise finish in the 86th minute.

The defeat was Pyramids' second in a row in the league, a surprising downturn in form. This result is also like a revenge win for National Bank, who were defeated 4-0 by Pyramids in the Egypt Cup last March.

With this win, National Bank climb to 4th place with 36 points—five behind third-placed Zamalek and with a game in hand. Pyramids drop to second place with 47 points, two behind new leaders Al Ahly.

Ceramica Cleopatra 2-2 Zamalek

Zamalek were once again held to a draw, their third in a row, as they played out a dramatic 2-2 away clash with Ceramica Cleopatra.

Nasser Mansi, in top form recently, opened the scoring in the 14th minute after dispossessing the Cleopatra goalkeeper and finishing into an empty net. That goal took his tally to 11 goals this season, placing him joint top of the scoring charts.

Islam Issa equalised for Cleopatra in the 64th minute with a low drive into the near post, but Zamalek regained the lead just five minutes later when Seifeddine Jaziri produced a moment of brilliance, dribbling past a defender before slotting the ball into the net.

However, Ceramica Cleopatra refused to give up, and in the 94th minute, Ahmed Belhadji scored a dramatic equaliser with a header in the stoppage time.

The draw leaves Zamalek in third place with 41 points, while Ceramica Cleopatra remains sixth with 31 points.

In the other match from Friday, Pharco and Petrojet played to a 2-2 draw.

Title Phase Table

	GP	Points
Al Ahly	22	49
Pyramids	22	47
Zamalek	22	41
National Bank	21	36
Al Masry	21	35
Ceramica Cleopatra	21	31
Pharco	21	30
Petrojet	22	26
Haras El Hodoud	21	22

• The league champions and the runners-up qualify for the 2025-26 CAF Champions League.

• The third place team qualifies for the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup.