Al Ahly win third straight Egyptian league title, rivals Pyramids protest in court
Pyramids have lodged a complaint against Ahly, over what they term as irregularities in their results.
Al-Ahly clinched the Egyptian Premier League title for the third consecutive time and the 45th in its history after crushing Farco with a clean six-goal victory in the final round of the league’s crowning stage on Wednesday.
However, rivals and CAF Champions League finalists Pyramids FC will hope to have a say in what happens going forward.
They have lodged a complaint against Ahly, over what they term as irregularities in their results.
On the night, Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali emerged as the star of the match, scoring a hat-trick (four goals) in the 10th, 33rd, 61st, and 66th minutes.
Hussein El-Shahat added the fifth goal in the 75th minute, while Imam Ashour sealed the sixth in stoppage time.
With this win, Al-Ahly raised its tally to 58 points, maintaining the top spot with a two-point lead over closest rival, Pyramids FC, who had hoped to secure their first-ever league title.
Meanwhile, Farco, who failed to secure a victory in the competition for the fourth consecutive match, remained in seventh place with 32 points.
Midfielder Mohamed Magdy Afsha expressed his joy after lifting the league shield, dedicating the triumph to the club's passionate supporters.
"It was a tough championship, and we succeeded in winning the title in the final moments," A jubilant Afsha told local media after the win over Farco.
"Personally, I always strive to work hard and give every drop of sweat for these precious moments. This title is a gift to our loyal fans who stand with us through every challenge."
However, Al Ahly's championship triumph is not without controversy. Reports from Egyptian media have revealed that Pyramids FC have taken legal action to challenge the outcome of the season.
The club has lodged a complaint with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), demanding that Al Ahly be docked three points for failing to honour a league fixture against arch-rivals Zamalek earlier in the campaign.
The Egyptian Football Association had initially handed Al Ahly a three-point deduction for missing the March clash after their request for foreign match officials was denied.
However, the decision was later reversed following an appeal by Al Ahly to the Egyptian Olympic Committee, sparking outrage from Pyramids officials who feel the decision unfairly altered the title race.
At the moment, the title belongs to Al Ahly.
With court processes already underway though, they might not remain champions much longer. We could see this dragging on longer than expected.
