Mahmoud El Khatib delivered a message to Al Ahly’s handball team, Masrawy reported.

El Khatib Praises Handball Squads After Continental Success

Mahmoud El Khatib addressed the players and coaching staff following a demanding stretch of matches that culminated in continental trophies. The intervention from club leadership arrived as the women’s section secured a major title, highlighted by the men’s 26-25 extra-time victory over Zamalek in the African Champions League final in Luanda, Angola, on October 14, 2026.

The club administration responded to the gruelling schedule by approving special financial bonuses outside the standard club regulations to reward the players’ dedication, according to Al Masry Al Youm.

Inside Al Ahly’s Narrow African Final Victory Over Zamalek

The continental decider at the Kilamba Arena tested Al Ahly’s resilience from the opening whistle. Zamalek seized an early 5-2 lead before Al Ahly clawed back to level the score, though the white side carried a narrow 10-9 advantage into halftime. The match swung back and forth through the second half, with Zamalek goalkeeper Youssef Naji stopping a penalty and a follow-up attempt to keep the score locked at 15-15.

Zamalek pushed ahead 22-21 in the dying moments of regulation, but Nabil Sherif scored the equalizer for Al Ahly in the final seconds to force extra time at 22-22. In the additional periods, Al Ahly secured a 26-25 victory to capture their fourth continental crown and their ninth overall title in the competition.

Contrasting Environments at Al Ahly and Zamalek

Mohamed Hisham El Basiony, known as Moudi, offered a detailed comparison between his experiences at the two clubs during an appearance on MBC Masr 2, as detailed by El Balad. Moudi, who spent three seasons with Zamalek before moving to the United Arab Emirates and eventually joining Al Ahly to replace the Germany-bound Ahmed Khiri, pointed to administrative stability as the primary differentiator.

In Ahly, everyone does their job, Moudi said in his broadcast remarks cited by El Balad. In contrast, he noted that during his three-year tenure at Zamalek, the club went through two boards of directors and four coaching changes, creating an environment where individuals frequently operated outside their designated roles.

Nusra Eid Leads Al Ahly Women to Historic Title in Angola

The Al Ahly women’s team defeated Angola’s First August to claim the African Women’s Handball Champions League title. Captain Nusra Eid Abdel Malik led the squad through a 21-20 victory over First August in the final in Luanda, bringing the trophy back to Cairo for the first time since 1979—a 47-year drought, according to Al Masry Al Youm.

Eid revealed in an interview with Youm7 that her involvement with the club extends beyond the handball court, noting that she also consults on the club’s women’s football recruitment following a request from Shady Mohamed, the supervisor of women’s football. Teammate Malek Ahmed told Al Masry Al Youm that the squad maintained four years of relentless preparation to finally overcome Angolan dominance in the tournament.