The winner of the domestic football league title might be announced today, reports Ahmed Morsy The league championship might be decided today, the 29th week, as title holders Ahli maintain their five-point lead over Zamalek. Both have two matches left. Ahli are on top of the league table with 57 points, five ahead of Zamalek who look likely to miss out yet again on their first trophy since 2004 since only two games remain before the season's end. Zamalek are scheduled to meet 12th-placed Wadi Degla while also today Ahli are due to meet 15th-placed Arab Contractors. "We once had a six-point advantage over Ahli but we are now five points behind them. That's why we should be blamed for where we are now, so I apologise to the fans on behalf of my teammates," Zamalek skipper and goalie Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed said on the club's official website after Sunday's 1-1 draw at Ittihad in Alexandria. Zamalek failed to make use of Ahli's surprise 2-2 draw at home to Smouha on the same day. A week ago, Ahli came from behind twice to draw with Zamalek for the fifth consecutive league derby tie as Ahli struck late to hold Zamalek to a 2-2 draw in Cairo to maintain their five- point cushion. Dominique Da Silva's late goal which equalised the score led to a touchline confrontation between Ahli coach Manuel Jose and his Zamalek counterpart Hossam Hassan who erupted following the goal and an on-field melee between players from both sides ensued. A furious Hassan confronted Jose on the touchline after Ahli declined to stop play in the build-up of an attack when Zamalek midfielder Ashour El-Adham was lying on the ground with an apparent cramp. "The FIFA slogan is Fair Play and Ahli didn't respect that. We had two players injured and they could have never scored if we weren't reduced to nine men," Hassan said during the post- match news conference. He also claimed Zamalek were the better side during the highly-charged game. "I am satisfied with my players' performance. They did their best despite the lack of experience. Ahli had the edge in that aspect," he added. At the press conference Ahli midfielder Mohamed Barakat reminded Hassan of a similar situation last year: "If you want to talk about fair play, then you should watch last season's Cairo derby which ended 3-3. "Zamalek's winger Mohamed Abdel-Shafi kicked the ball in my face. I was lying on the field but Zamalek continued their attack and scored a late equaliser," Barakat said. Jose refused to comment on his extraordinary encounter with Hassan during this week's derby. "I don't care what Zamalek's coach says," Jose was quoted as saying on Ahli's official website, adding, "I only care about Ahli. "The draw is enough for us to win the title for the seventh successive time," Jose added. Following the derby, the Egyptian Football Association handed Ahli midfielder Hossam Ashour a three-match ban after he received a red card. Ashour was sent off in the 90th minute after attacking Zamalek's midfielder Hani Said during the run of play. Said was also sanctioned with a one-match ban and a LE5,000 fine for assaulting Ahli's striker Da Silva and trying to crash the opponents' dressing room after the game. Zamalek's coach Hassan had to watch the Ittihad game from the stands following his touchline, unannounced meeting with Jose. In the 28th week, Ahli were seconds away from suffering their second league defeat this season when defender Ahmed El-Sayed found an empty net and slotted home for a 2-2 draw against Smouha. Smouha were two goals ahead with 11 minutes to go thanks to Ghanaian midfielder Godwin Attram who scored a stunning brace but Ahli substitute Osama Hosni pulled one back via a superb one-touch goal. But Zamalek could not make headway after their star Mahmoud 'Shikabala' Abdel-Razek was sent off after the break in a 1-1 draw with Ittihad.
