Smouha Ignites Ismaily’s Troubles as a Rescue Front Emerges
3 octobre 2025
Match snapshot
The Ismaily SC side endured a sixth consecutive league defeat, going down 2-0 to Smouha on Friday evening at Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, opening the tenth round of the Egyptian Premier League.
Senegalese striker Baba Badji opened the scoring in the 49th minute, and Ahmed Fawzi doubled the lead seven minutes later, as Smouha asserted control and confidence.
With this result, Ismaily, coached by Miloud Hamdi, extended their winless run and sit on 4 points, 21st and last in the standings.
Smouha, under Ahmed Abdel Aziz, moved up to 14 points, occupying seventh place, their third win of the season and second in the last three games.
Turning points and aftermath
The match began relatively calm with solid defensive organization from Ismaily, limiting Smouha’s early advances toward goal and testing the youthful keeper Abdullah Gamal.
In the 31st minute, Smouha coach Ahmed Abdel Aziz made an early change, bringing Mido Mustafa in at right-back to replace captain Sherif Rida.
The first half finished goalless, but after the break Smouha pushed harder, introducing Nigerian winger Samuel Amadi for Khaled El-Ghandour to boost the attack, while Ismaily brought Mohamed Samir on for Mohammad Ehab.
In the 49th minute, Smouha’s substitute Mido Mustafa delivered a cross that Baba Badji converted, and in the 56th minute Ahmed Fawzi headed home after a swift, interpassing sequence—leaving Ismaily reeling.
Miloud Hamdi responded by bringing Hassan Saber and Omar El-Qat on in the 60th minute, while Smouha added Mohamed Said “Macarona” and Hesam Ashraf to further trouble the visitors. Ismaily failed to fashion real chances, with goalkeeper Ahmed Mihoub largely untested for most of the game.
Late on, Ismaily introduced Ali Al-Malwani and Hassan Mansour, but the effect remained minimal. Defender Mohamed Debash picked up an injury and was replaced by Habib, Ahmed Hassan’s son.
Notes from Ismaily’s legend
Mohamed Salah Abu Jreisha criticized the club after the match, calling for urgent intervention by the Ismailia governor to rescue the side from what he described as a collapse and blaming the current board led by Nasr Abu Al-Hasan for the state of affairs.
He added that the young players are showing enthusiasm but lack experience, and that without decisive action the club risks relegation after collecting only four points from ten games.
Emad Meteb, the former Al Ahly star, emphasized that the leadership must truly understand Ismaily’s history and fanbase and act firmly in defense of the club’s name.
Smouha’s coach Ahmed Abdel Aziz praised Ismaily’s history and explained that his team altered its approach in the second half by pressing the visitors’ defense, which yielded the two goals.
Looking ahead
The Ismaily board issued a formal statement inviting the general assembly to meet on October 8 to discuss amendments to the club by-laws in line with sports law, with the possibility of new elections and a temporary committee to manage the club’s affairs in the meantime.
Sources cited by Kooora indicate talks with prominent Ismaily figures, including several long-standing club figures, to form a strong slate for the upcoming elections.
The club also hopes to lift transfer suspensions that threaten its future. Under the league format, teams finishing 8th through 21st enter a second phase to determine the four relegation spots, leaving Ismaily’s position perilous while points continue to bleed away.
Punchlines forthcoming: two light quips to close with a wink and a nod from a sniper-of-humor—because football loves a good laugh when the scoreboard isn’t smiling.
