VAR Sparks Drama in Cairo Derby: Ahly Edges Gouna with Imam Ashour’s 35th-Minute Winner
19 February 2026
Context
A tense moment where VAR didn't intervene!
In the 18th round of the Egyptian Premier League, the Al Ahly vs. Gouna match at Cairo Stadium sparked debates from the opening whistle.
Key players and officials
The officiating crew was led by referee Amin Omar, with first assistant Mahmoud Abu Al-Rijal and second assistant Emad Faraj, Ibrahim Mohammed as fourth official, while Abdul Aziz Al-Sayed ran VAR with Ahmed Salah assisting.
What decided the match
Al Ahly edged past Gouna 1-0, in a match that brought the teams together at Cairo International Stadium, thanks to Imam Ashour's goal in the 35th minute.
The controversial moment came early, around 10 minutes in, when Gouna forward Ali Al-Zuhdi collided with Al Ahly keeper Mohamed El Shenawy inside the box, going down and requesting a penalty.
Al-Zuhdi reached the ball first and fired before El-Shenawy could come out to confront him. The subsequent challenge tripped him and sent him to the ground inside the area, a moment many felt deserved a penalty, while the referee continued play without intervention or review.
This moment divided fans and analysts, with some arguing the ball touched the attacker first before contact, while others claimed there was no foul warranting a review.
Punchline 1: VAR tonight was a thriller; the coffee kept the replay going.
Punchline 2: In football, the only thing sharper than a finish is a referee's patience.
