Egypt’s Ahly football club have recaptured the Premier League title - without even playing, reports Alaa Abdel-Ghani. After Ceramica Cleopatra defeated second place Pyramids on Monday, Ahly had an unassailable 75 points with five games left in the 34-game schedule.

Second place Pyramids have 67 points with two games left. Two-time defending champions Zamalek have 59 points, also with two games left.

This is Ahly's 43rd Egyptian Premier League title and their first since 2020, having lost the previous two editions to crosstown rivals Zamalek.

It also marked the fifth trophy for first-year Swiss coach Marcel Koller since taking over the team, having won last year's Egypt Cup and two Super Cups earlier this season.

Last month, Ahly won the African Champions League, beating Wydad of Casablanca for a record-extending 11th time.

Ahly could yet finish the season undefeated with a 23-win record and six draws. They have scored 54 goals against only seven let in. But they still must finish the schedule, including against Zamalek today (Thursday 13 July) and Pyramids.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly