Ahli once more confirmed their dominance of Egyptian football by winning their sixth consecutive domestic league title. Ahmed Morsy reports Ahli claimed their six successive Egyptian football league title, their 35th overall in their storied history, three weeks before the end of the season after an easy 3-0 victory over the relegated side Mansoura. With three matches to spare, Ahli left the likes of Zamalek and Petrojet to compete for second spot which brings African Champions League qualification. Under fire all season for a string of lacklustre displays, Ahli coach Hossam El-Badri now has a chance to relax and enjoy his side's triumphant if dull season. "I was waiting for this moment for a long time," El-Badri said in a television interview following the win over Mansoura which gave Ahli 60 points. "We reaped the rewards of our efforts throughout this season. Our fine display tonight also gave the win a special flavour." El-Badri, who was making his debut as Ahli coach after five years in the shadows of Portuguese manager Manuel Jose, thanked everybody who supported him this season. "I also respect those who criticised me although I was rebuilding the team. "I thank God for this triumph. Our fans' primary target lies in the league, so we had to win it." Despite Ahli's sealing of the title, the league must finish its schedule. On Monday, newly crowned Ahli were held to a 1-1 draw with Ismaili which dashed any hope Ismaili harboured of finishing second. Following his double against Mansoura, Ahli backup striker Osama Hosni was fielded alongside Francis Doe up front for the hosts. Ismaili dropped their first-choice keeper Essam El-Hadari after the Egypt number one's controversial comments regarding a return to Ahli. Ahli were off to a good start and it took only 12 minutes for them to break the deadlock. Ahmed Shoukri fired the opener, tapping in Mohamed Barakat's low cross from close range. Before half time, Ahli's defender Sherif Abdel-Fadil, who signed from Ismaili in the summer, was unlucky not to double the lead when he struck two powerful free kicks, only for former teammate Mohamed Sobhi to deny him twice. Barakat, who has been in superb form of late, was once again Ahli's most active player during the game, but his night was over in the 57th minute because of injury, to be replaced by Ahmed Belal. Only three minutes after Barakat left the pitch, Ismaili levelled the score, thanks to a classy strike from Ahmed Ali. Ismaili's top scorer received Ahmed Samir Farag's cross with an excellent first touch, before beating Sherif Ekrami with a slight chip. Despite the introduction of veterans Ahmed Hassan and Mohamed Abu Treika, neither could make the difference for Ahli. After the draw, Ahli reached 61 points to stay at the top, while Ismaili now stand in fourth on 44. Both coaches expressed their satisfaction with the result. "The result is agreeable for both teams since we played the game while bearing in mind our African commitments," El-Badri stated. "The game was good experience to prepare for Ittihad of Libya, and we had an on-par performance with Ismaili." The Egyptian champions clash with Libya's Ittihad Tripoli in round 16 of the CAF Champions League on Sunday, needing to overturn their 2-0 loss in Libya in the first leg. Ismaili will host Al-Hilal of Sudan on the same day, in the same round, in the same championship, after claiming a 1-0 away victory. As in the number of league wins, Ahli have won the African championship six times; Ismaili have one to their credit. "I tried to get the players ready for this crucial African game, and we were about to get the three points against Ismaili, but it was an individual deflect which caused the draw." Elsewhere, Zamalek snatched a 3-1 victory against Misri in Port Said to boost their chances of finishing second in the Egyptian league. Zamalek are in second on 51 points while Misri are 11th with 32. Zamalek broke the deadlock after 18 minutes through Ahli's former midfielder Hassan Mustafa who followed Shikabala's powerful shot to score his first goal for the club. Shikabala stunned the hosts with an sublime goal on the half-hour mark. Zamalek's star of the season manoeuvred past Misri's last standing defender before beating goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawi with an implausible finish. In the second half, Misri looked the better team and seemed determined to overturn their two-goal deficit. Subsequently, in the 57th minute, Abdel-Salam Nagah, who joined the club in January, pulled one back for Misri. Nagah, who scored against Zamalek before moving from Haras Al-Hedoud, beat Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed with a tame shot that the keeper should have held. In the 74th minute, substitute Bakary Coulibaly hit the bar, only for Zamalek to strike against the flow of play as Remy Adiko wrapped up the three points for Zamalek. Adiko scored his first goal with Zamalek after poaching in Sabri Rahil's cross from the left flank. "After the win, we are now sure that we're on the right path," Zamalek coach Hossam Hassan said. "We won many things other than the three points. I am certain that today Zamalek have an integrated team since the substitutions I made all gave very positive feedback," Hassan added. "I 'm also very happy with the spirit of victory that has become one of the characteristics of the team, as was shown in the players despite losing out hope over the title." Former Zamalek and Premiership side Hull striker Amr Zaki was in the stadium after terminating his deal with Hull City. The Egypt striker stepped up his efforts to terminate his contract and be eligible to take part in Zamalek's Egyptian Cup campaign. "Everything has been settled with Hull. Zaki is now free," Zamalek's de factor football director Ibrahim Hassan, the twin brother of head coach Hassan, said on the club's official website. "He will be cleared to play with Zamalek once he has received his international transfer certificate." Zaki's return is likely to give Hossam Hassan a major boost after he complained about the lack of reliable strikers at his disposal. Zamalek, who are likely to finish as runners- up to the league champions and arch-rivals Ahli, can salvage their season if they win the Egyptian Cup. They are scheduled to open their campaign against second-division side Al-Fayoum in round 32 of the Egyptian Cup and are expected to face Ahli in the following round. Ahli meet Nabrouh on 25 May. Regarding the rest of the week, relegated Assiout Petroleum stunned Ittihad 4-2. Assiout claimed their fourth win this season, courtesy of goals from Hossam Osama, Fathi Mabrouk, Bahaa Berri and Wael Farrag. But African Cup of Nations' hero Geddo hit a double consolation for Ittihad in the last four minutes, scoring for the first time since December 2009. Assiout remain 15th with 19 points, while Ittihad's hope of making the top five were dented as they lie ninth on 34 points. Elsewhere, none of the teams threatened with relegation managed to gain ground as Al-Gouna, the Arab Contractors and Spinning Mehalla registered away draws. The Contractors failed to win at relegated Mansoura while Al-Gouna were held to a 1-1 draw at Haras Al-Hedoud. Ahli-bound Gamal Hamza equalised against Ahmed Abdel-Ghani's opener for the hosts. In Cairo, Al-Gaish held Mehalla to a goalless draw and the same scoreline ruled in the game between Enppi and Petrojet. In the battle for fourth place, Police Union saw off Military Production 2-0, courtesy of goals from Mohamed Nagib and Salah Ashour. The league's top scorer looks likely to be Police Union's striker Minusu Buba with 14 goals while the runner-up will be Petrojet's Eric Bekoe.
