The African Super Cup has been added to Zamalek's growing trophy chest Egypt's cup, the local super cup and African Champions League. They all belong to Zamalek and now a fourth championship has been added: the African Super Cup. The latest addition came Friday night in Cairo after Zamalek soundly beat Wedad Casablanca 3-1. Both sides were playing after winning the continent's two biggest prizes in club football -- the African Champions League and the African Cup Winners Cup. It was Zamalek's third super cup title, allowing the side to keep the trophy forever. Both teams were on their guard at the outset, typical of North African clashes. Zamalek spilt first blood, netting what would be the first of three unanswered goals. In the 28th minute Ahmed Saleh passed to Mohamed Abdel-Wahed who, with his back to the goal, made an about- face without touching the ball. That gave him a half-step advantage over his nearest defender, enabling him to get close enough to fire a pile driver. The 60,000 spectators in attendance at Cairo Stadium were in for more. In the second half, Abdel-Halim Ali, given ample space on the right, poked the ball to captain Hazem Emam who could have scored the easiest of goals right then and there. But Emam, showing no signs of a recurrent knee injury, decided to fake a defender before hammering the ball in with his right foot in the 63rd minute. Wedad never knew what hit them after that. Still reeling from Emam's showtime, the club fell apart when just two minutes later it was 3-0 after goalkeeper Al-Jarmouni inexplicably gave the ball away from a goal kick. Al-Jarmouni's wayward pass went straight to Gamal Hamza who passed to Ali who dribbled past one defender before burying the ball. Down by three goals, Wedad had their work cut out for them and they responded, repeatedly penetrating Zamalek's midfield and defence area. They were rewarded, albeit late, for their patient footwork. In the 34th minute, Ivorian substitute Gah Zadi pulled one back for the Moroccans. Applying polished dribbling skills, Zadi finished off a mesmerising assault on goal. That would prove Wedad's only consolation for the evening. Zamalek's Brazilian coach Capral was over the moon following the win, all the more reason because it came without the help of the famous twins, Hossam and Ibrahim. The pair have been in the Zamalek doghouse for over two months because of rows with the coach who has deemed them to be in dissent. On Sunday, a Zamalek practice session was cancelled after fans, angered by the absence of the twins in training, almost rioted. The ban on both had been lifted immediately after the Wedad game but the twins failed to show up. "We played 10 games and won nine, which proves that Zamalek is not dependent on one player," Emam said, apparently responding to the absence of the twins. "I think we have to be proud of ourselves at the moment for being the best African team." Zamalek won two previous Super Cup titles in 1994 and 1997 after beating Egyptian clubs Ahli and the Arab Contractors.
