League champions Ahli and Zamalek finished the Egyptian domestic league season by a win and a goalless draw respectively, Ahmed Morsy reports The Egyptian national league reached its conclusion on Monday. Leaders Ahli edged Military Production with a goal from striker Ahmed Belal at Cairo Stadium. Runner- up Zamalek drew 0-0 at Mansoura who were relegated to the second division. Ahli's 65 points were 10 more than nearest rivals Zamalek. Ismaili snatched third place from Petrojet after beating Assiout Petroleum 2-1, courtesy of goals from Ahmed Ali and Abdullah El-Shahat. Assiout Petroleum were also sent packing downstairs to the second division. Ismaili, who finished runner-up last season, booked a place in the African Confederation Cup next season after occupying the third spot. They edged Petrojet by a point, 48 to 47. Spinning Mehalla were relegated as well from the Egyptian Premier League following a 1-1 draw at Haras Al-Hedoud. Mehalla joined Mansoura and Assiout Petroleum in the bottom rung after finishing 14th on 31 points. Ironically, Mehalla were the only team which managed to beat champions Ahli this season. Ahmed Hassan Farag's equaliser after Ahmed Eid's early goal was never enough for Mohamed Radwan's side. Elsewhere, the Arab Contractors stunned Petrojet 3-0 in Suez to reach 34 points, the same number collected by Misri and Al-Gouna who played out a 1-1 draw in Port Said. The Contractors finished ahead on goal difference. A brace from Ihab El-Masri and a goal from Reda El-Weeshi lifted the Contractors above Petrojet who managed a fourth-place finish. Petrojet coach Mokhtar Mokhtar announced he will leave Petrojet by the end of the Egyptian Cup this summer, following their humiliating home defeat to the Contractors. "I can't help the team anymore. I will leave after the cup campaign," Mokhtar said after Monday's game in Suez. "For the first time, I can say that the players are fully responsible for the defeat. They let me down. I never thought I would lose like this. "Anyway, I thank the board, the fans and the players for their support during my stay with the club." In other matches, Police Union claimed fifth place with a 2-0 victory over Al-Gaish thanks to goals from Samuel Kyere and Salah Ashour. Wadi Degla sealed their first Egyptian Premier League promotion after beating Railways, Egypt's oldest club, 3- 1. They joined Smouha and MCSD who will also experience Premier League football for the first time in their history. Wadi Degla were promoted to the Premier League after just one season in the second division, a feat achieved only once before, by the Arab Contractors in 1981. Egyptian businessman Maged Sami, the owner of Wadi Degla club founded in 2003, basks in two achievements. Belgian side Lierse SK, who are also owned by Sami, earned promotion to the Belgian first division last month. Wadi Degla, who are based in Maadi, a wealthy suburb in southern Cairo, boarded an open-top bus to celebrate their achievement. Alexandria-based club Smouha sealed promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history after thumping Abu Qir Fertilisers 7-1. Former Ahli striker Alaa Ibrahim scored twice in Smouha's victory over Abu Qir to maintain his superb form after joining in January on a loan deal from Petrojet. It remains to be seen whether Smouha will try to sign the 35-year-old permanently as his contract is due to expire at the end of the season. They are set to appoint former Egypt coach Mohsen Saleh as their new manager. Meanwhile, the round of 32 of the Egyptian Cup is scheduled to be played tomorrow and the day after. A prospected Egyptian Cup clash between Ahli and Zamalek could well occur if the Cairo giants win their respective games in round 32. Ahli and Zamalek, who met in the cup final in 2007, were paired against winnable last-32 ties against lower division sides Nabaroh and Al-Fayoum respectively. The round of 32 draw was based on a criteria that each top-flight side played a lower division team.
