UNDER new interim coach Osama Nabih, Zamalek beat Future 2-1 on Sunday in the Egyptian football league, snapping a five-game winless streak. Defensive blunders led to all three goals in the first half.

The win was Zamalek’s first this year following three defeats and two draws in the league for the defending champions, in addition to their ouster from the semi-finals of the Egyptian Cup in which they are also last year’s champions. The poor stretch led to the firing of Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira who was at the helm for last season’s league and cup double. Ferreira had dismissed Nabih, his assistant, just two weeks ago. As of Sunday, the standings had Ahly on top with 37 points from 15 games.

Pyramids lie second with 31 points from 16 games, tied with Future. Zamalek were fourth with 29 points, also after 16 matches.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 2 February, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly