Triple treat

Winning the Super Cup made it three championships for Ahli this season. Inas Mazhar reports

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Khashaba bids farewell while his teammates carry the Super Cup in celebration photos: Salah Ibrahim

With only two minutes to go in the Super Cup, Ahli's Mohamed Abu Treika scored the winning goal against Enppi to give his team its third title this season.

On Sunday in Cairo Stadium, both teams gave a lacklustre performance which put to sleep the already low spectator turnout.

This was the sixth edition of the Super Cup which pits the league champion against the cup winner. Ahli are the defending champions in both.

Ahli had been scheduled to play the super against Zamalek but the latter was banned by the Egyptian Football Association after refusing to receive their silver medals in the FA Cup final last month. Third place Enppi was substituted instead.

Ahli's victory gave the team the third title this season after the league championship and the FA Cup. But the club looked lethargic after playing a hectic season that included African and national competitions, including a 1-0 away loss to Sfax of Tunisia in the group stage of the African Champions League last week.

Team captain Shadi Mohamed received the trophy from Samir Zaher the federation president. Shadi had been announced captain immediately after the retirement of midfielder Hadi Khashaba whose testimonial match was three days earlier. Khashaba is expected to take on administration work within the football club.

It was the first time in the history of the Super Cup that the game was decided in regulation time. The past five editions ended either in extra time or penalty kicks.

Ahli spent two weeks training in France in preparation for the new season and bought new players from Zamalek Tarek El-Said and Mohamed Sedik. However, injuries to Mohamed Barakat and Emad El-Nahhas nullified the acquisitions.

Ahli is scheduled to face Shebeiba Qaba'el of Algeria in the second match of the champions League on 29 July in Cairo. A win is needed if the defending champions are to remain in contention.