Zamalek triumphed 4-3 on penalties over Egyptian rivals Al Ahly after a 1-1 draw in regular time to win the CAF Super Cup in Riyadh on Friday.
Ahly took the lead in the 44th minute through a controversial penalty scored by Wessam Abou Ali, while substitute Nasser Mansy equalised for Zamalek in the 77th minute, scoring with his first touch of the ball.
In the penalty shootout, Zamalek converted all four of their attempts, while Ahly faltered twice, with Mohamed Awad saving Yahya Attia Allah’s effort and Abou Ali hitting the post.
This victory marked Zamalek’s fifth Super Cup win in six attempts, while Ahly, despite being the most successful club in the competition with eight titles, have now suffered four Super Cup defeats.
The dramatic finish provided a tense climax for the 30,000 spectators at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, after a match that was otherwise marred by stoppages. Zamalek’s players were particularly angered by the penalty decision in the 34th minute, when Hamza Mathlouthi was penalised for stamping on Akram Tawfik’s leg following a weak shot.
After a VAR review confirmed the penalty, Zamalek players protested fiercely, even threatening to walk off the pitch. It took 10 minutes for the game to resume, with Abou Ali calmly slotting the penalty.
At half-time, security personnel had to escort the referee off the field as Zamalek’s protests continued. However, Portuguese coach Jose Gomes’s introduction of Mansy in the second half proved crucial, as the substitute netted the equaliser with a well-placed effort from Omar Gaber’s cross.