An unimpressive Ahly side got back to winning ways after edging out Maqassa 1-0 in the Egyptian league at Cairo Stadium on Sunday.
A first-half Ahmed Abdel-Zaher strike was enough to hand Ahly all three points against a team who barely looked a threat throughout the whole 90 minutes.
Following Ahly’s humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Ittihad last week, which also followed a goalless draw with Wadi Degla, Juan Garrido’s men managed to hit their stride to move to fourth spot of the table with 24 points having been in seventh place ahead of the game.
The CAF Confederation Cup holders, however, still have two games in hand in their bid to defend their league title.
An insipid match barely witnessed goal-scoring opportunities for any side, but the Cairo giants line up featured a new face in youngster Mohamed Hani who deputized for the injured Bassem Ali at right back.
The 19-year-old looked promising, having launched several forays down the flank, where Walid Soliman was deployed ahead of him.
The return of holding midfielder Hossam Ashour also gave Ahly much needed strength in the center of the park, an area where the reigning champions suffered a lot against Ittihad.
MINI MATCH (Match Highlights)
Press Conference
