Zamalek forward Nasser Mansi vies for the ball during the 1-0 win over Smouha on Tuesday. Photo: Zamalek's official X account.
The Cairo side, who had seen their five-point lead at the summit dwindle following a goalless draw with Enppi and a heavy 3-0 derby defeat by Ahly, restored their momentum with a narrow win that keeps their fate firmly in their own hands.
With the result, Zamalek maintain top spot on 53 points, two clear of Pyramids FC, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Ceramica Cleopatra, and three ahead of title holders Ahly, who defeated Enppi 3-0 in the same day.
Coach Motamed Gamal named an unchanged starting XI from Friday's Cairo derby, with Brazilian winger Juan Bezerra relegated to the bench after feeling discomfort during warm up.
The White Knights, aware that dropping points could allow their rivals to capitalise, adopted a cautious approach against a well-drilled Smouha side.
The visitors posed the early threat, as Nigerian forward Samuel Amadi latched onto a neat pass from Samir Fekri, in the 8th minute, but his right-footed effort from the right side of the box drifted wide of the far post.
Three minutes later, Mohamed Dabash rose highest to meet a Mohamed Mostafa cross, only for Zamalek's defence to block the header at close range.
Zamalek struggled to break down Smouha's compact defensive shape, with midfield play dominating proceedings.
Midfielder Mohamed Shehata tested goalkeeper Ahmed Mayhoub with a long-range strike just before the half-hour mark, but the Smouha keeper comfortably gathered the effort.
As the first half wound down, Zamalek increased possession and pressure.
Two minutes before the interval, Mayhoub produced a brilliant reflex save to deny Palestinian forward Oday Dabbagh, who had met an Abdallah El-Said cross with a powerful header from the right side of the area.
Subs pay off for the Whites
Gamal reshuffled his attack at the break, introducing Bezerra and Angolan winger Chico Banza to inject pace, while bringing on centre-back Mahmoud "El-Wensh" Hamdi to shore up the backline. The changes soon bore fruit.
In the 62nd minute, the deadlock was broken, after Bezerra delivered an inch-perfect cross from the right flank, and Dabbagh rose unmarked to power a header into the top right corner from the centre of the box, sending the travelling Zamalek supporters into raptures.
Trailing, Smouha pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Zamalek's reorganised defence held firm, absorbing pressure and threatening on the counter.
The White Knights controlled large spells of possession but failed to register another shot on target as the game became increasingly stretched.
Deep into stoppage time, Smouha substitute Ahmed Amin forced a stunning reflex save from Zamalek goalkeeper El Mahdi Soliman with a close-range effort, ensuring a nervy finale.
However, the Cairo side held on to secure a vital three points.
The victory means Zamalek require just a single point from their final fixture, away to Ceramica Cleopatra, to be crowned Egyptian Premier League champions for the first time since 2022.
The Whit Knights’ attention now turns to the continental stage, as they prepare to face USM Alger in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final in Algeria on Saturday.
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