AHLI won the Egyptian handball league despite losing to arch-rivals Zamalek. The result left the two clubs level on points, 26 each, and equal in head-to-head meetings, Ahli winning the first round while Zamalek the second. Pronouncing Ahli the champion came after comparing the results of the two clubs in the junior league. Ahli's little ones had beaten Zamalek's twice during the season. In Ahli club's indoor hall in Gezira, the hosts were beaten 27-24 in the final. The game was tied at 13 at half-time before Zamalek took the lead in the second and never relinquished it. Ahli's head coach Yasser Labib said it would have been better if the team had celebrated both the league trophy and beating Zamalek. Labib added that his team lost the match because they were confident of winning the trophy even if they had lost. "They were celebrating beforehand," he said. This was the first official professional league in the history of Egyptian handball. Eight teams took part in the round--robin event which began in September. Ahli will now prepare to host the World Clubs Handball Championship next month. Six teams will take part in the event.
