Ahly coach Fathi Mabrouk expressed his great delight after Monday's 2-0 Egyptian league win over Masry, insisting that the title race is still open.

Ahly kept their slim hopes of winning the Egyptian Premier League alive after beating rivals Masry of Port Said in Sharm El-Sheikh Stadium.

"I am very happy with the result. It was a good game for our players who dominated the whole first half to score the two goals," Mabrouk said at the press conference after the match.

"We were negatively affected by both the hot weather and moisture in the second half. Also playing too many games in a limited amount time was a key reason behind the fatigue but we managed to keep a clean sheet until the final whistle," the coach added.

The precious win kept title holders Ahly chasing leaders and rivals Zamalek who also defeated Ismaily on the same day to take a step closer to their first league trophy since 2004.

Ahly, who are bidding for their ninth straight league title, remain second at the league table with 74 points, six behind leaders Zamalek who have a game in hand.

Zamalek just need four points from the remaining four matches to clinch the title, but Mabrouk still has hope of the title.

"The title race is not over yet," Mabrouk told satellite channel Sada El-Balad after the match.

Next Sunday, Ahly will be hosted by Mali’s Stade Malien in the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

"Beating Masry is the best preparation for the Stade Malien clash," concluded Mabrouk.

Ahly is competing in Confederation Cup Group A alongside Tunisia's Esperance, Stade Malien and Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel.

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