Harambee Stars defender Baron Ochieng was forced to watch from the sidelines as his club Zamalek suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to their fierce rivals Al Ahly in the Egyptian Super Cup final played in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
It was a night of frustration for Zamalek, who had hoped to end their four-year wait for the prestigious trophy. Instead, they were left heartbroken as Al Ahly continued their dominance in the fixture with a commanding display. Moroccan winger Achraf Bencharki opened the scoring in the 44th minute after capitalizing on a defensive lapse before midfielder Marwan Atteya sealed the victory in the 72nd minute, ensuring the Red Devils extended their Super Cup winning streak to five consecutive titles and 16 overall.
Zamalek’s interim coach Ahmed Abdel-Raouf made several changes from the side that defeated Pyramids FC in the semi-finals, a move that appeared to disrupt the team’s rhythm. Meanwhile, Al Ahly coach Jess Thorup opted for consistency, fielding the same starting eleven that triumphed over Ceramica Cleopatra in the previous round — a decision that paid off handsomely.
For Baron Ochieng, it was another missed opportunity to impress, as the Kenyan defender has struggled to break into the first team since joining Zamalek in September. He has featured only once for the 14-time Egyptian champions, and his absence in such a crucial match highlights his ongoing battle for a regular starting role.
The loss extends Zamalek’s Super Cup drought, with their last triumph coming in 2020. The club now shifts its attention to other competitions, including the Egyptian Premier League, the Egyptian Cup, and the CAF Confederation Cup, where they will seek redemption and silverware to salvage their season.
Despite his limited playing time at club level, Ochieng’s focus now turns to international duty after earning a call-up to the Harambee Stars squad for the upcoming friendly matches against Equatorial Guinea and Senegal. The defender will be eager to use the national team platform to showcase his quality and remind Zamalek’s coaching staff of his potential.
As Zamalek regroup and look ahead to upcoming fixtures, fans will be hoping Ochieng can soon find his footing in Egypt and play a pivotal role in helping the team return to winning ways.
