Zamalek's defender Abdel-Shafi (Photo: Zamalek Official Website)
Zamalek regained the Egyptian league summit after claiming a narrow 2-1 win over Ittihad of Alexandria on Tuesday.
Substitute forward Youssef 'Obama' Ibrahim opened the scoring in the hour-mark but Ittihad's striker Khaled Kamar leveled the score 13 minutes later.
Veteran fullback Mohamed Abdel-Shafi netted the winner with five minutes remaining, giving his side three precious points.
Zamalek are now on the top of the league table with 67 points, three points ahead Ahly who will face Ismaily on Wednesday.
The first half was a dull affair, with both sides failed to create any chances for around 40 minutes.
The only chance came five minutes before the break when Zamalek defensive midfielder Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz sent a powerful shot from 30 meters but his effort was denied by the keeper.
After another ten poor minutes in the second-half, Zamalek coach Patrice Carteron introduced Youssef' Obama' Ibrahim and Emam Ashour at the expense of Mahmoud' Shikabala' Abdel-Razek and Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz respectively in order to improve the team's offensive performance
Five minutes later Obama proved his worth after scoring his side's first goal, taking his goal tally in the league to ten goals so far.
The 26-year-old met a pinpoint cross from Achraf Bencharki with a nice header that went in the bottom of the net.
Striker Khaled Kamar, who is a former Zamalek striker, netted the equaliser after 13 minutes with a wonderful header.
Mohamed Abdel-Shafi scored the winner, five minutes from time when he followed a rebounded ball from Ittiad's keeper to fire home.
Substitute striker Marwan Hamdi had the chance to make it 3-1 but he squandered a golden chance in injury time, while Abdel-Ghani Mohamed was close to score the equalizer but his close-range header went inches from the bar.
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