23 Years On: Al Ahly Crushes Zamalek with a Historic 6-1 Victory

An Unforgettable Derby

On this day, Friday, May 16, 2025, marks the 23rd anniversary of one of the most famous Cairo derby matches between Al Ahly and Zamalek. In this unforgettable encounter, Al Ahly triumphed with a stunning 6-1 victory, a match forever etched in the memory of Egyptian football fans as the “Bebo and Basheer Derby.”
Al Ahly Seeks Revenge, Zamalek Defends the Title

The match took place at Cairo International Stadium during Round 23 of the 2001–2002 Egyptian Premier League season. Al Ahly, under Portuguese coach Manuel José, entered the game seeking to restore pride after losing the league title.

Zamalek, led by German coach Otto Pfister, appeared stronger on paper—but what unfolded on the field defied all expectations.

Red Shock from the First Second

Just seconds after kickoff, Reda Shehata stunned the crowd with a lightning-fast goal. Ibrahim Said added a second in the 19th minute, giving Al Ahly a quick two-goal lead.

In the 29th minute, Khaled Bebo netted the third goal, before Hossam Hassan pulled one back for Zamalek before halftime.

Bebo Makes History, Humbling Zamalek

In the second half, Al Ahly continued their dominance. Khaled Bebo carved his name into derby history, scoring three more goals in the 64th, 72nd, and 92nd minutes to complete his four-goal haul and seal a legendary 6-1 victory. That night, Bebo emerged as the undisputed hero.

An Iconic Commentary: “Bebo and Basheer... Bebo and the Goal”

The match is remembered for one of the most iconic lines in Egyptian sports commentary, delivered by Medhat Shalaby: “Bebo and Basheer... Bebo and the goal,” after Bebo repeatedly dribbled past defender Basheer El-Tabie.

Starting Lineups in the Historic Derby

Al Ahly: Essam El-Hadary, Wael Gomaa, Hady Khashaba, Shady Mohamed, Hossam Ghaly, Ibrahim Said, Gilberto, Sayed Abdel Hafeez, Reda Shehata, Khaled Bebo, Ahmed Belal.

Zamalek: Mohamed Abdel Monsef, Basheer El-Tabie, Tarek El-Sayed, Reda Seka, Tamer Abdel Hamid, Hazem Emam, Mohamed Abdel Wahid, Gamal Hamza, Mohamed Aboul Ela, Hossam Hassan.