Nigerian Coach Upsets the Giants: Etisalat Misr Dethrones Al Ahly 2-1 in Egypt Cup

Egypt Cup Shock: Nigerian Coach Leads Etisalat Misr to Historic Upset

Nigerian coach Alyo Zubero shot to prominence after steering his Egyptian club Etisalat Misr to a 2-1 win over Al Ahly in the Egypt Cup Round of 32, a heavyweight upset that rocked fans.

Etisalat Misr competes in the Premier League's second division, and this victory marked the team's first-ever win against Al Ahly, sending them into the Round of 16 to face Pharco.

Zubero took charge of Etisalat Misr in early November, his first coaching assignment outside Nigeria.

The 61-year-old had spent years guiding Nigerian outfits such as Wikki Tourists and Gombe United, and he also steered Canemi Warriors to a Nigerian Cup triumph before taking the Nigeria U-20 team to Africa's youth stage.

With Nigeria's youth side, he beat Tunisia, drew with Morocco, and defeated Egypt on penalties at a continental tournament, before leading the country to the World Cup knockouts where Argentina halted their run 4-0.

Back in club football, Zubero's Etisalat Misr posted solid results in the second division and reached the Egypt Cup quarterfinals, proving the upset was no fluke.

In postmatch TV remarks, he said he was happy to beat a rival with such African pedigree and urged his players not to fear, insisting they should perform at their best. He highlighted Mustafa Fawzi as a player he trusts and noted that starting was not the key—making the difference was.

Punchline time: If upsets paid the bills, this night would earn Zubero a full salary and a seat on the plane to glory. And if football had a GPS, the route to Al Ahly would keep recalculating until it found history.

Sniper punchline 1: If upsets paid the bills, this win would fund a lifetime supply of snacks in the press box.

Sniper punchline 2: If football had a passport, Zubero's would be stamped from every continent—history travels faster than a bus in Cairo.