The Red Devils could only share honors with a struggling Ittihad side to lose more ground on leaders Zamalek, who seem favorites to end a six-year Egyptian Premier League drought at the expense of their arch rivals.

Zizo's debut saw Ahli draw 1-1 draw at Smouha and another Alexandria-based club, Ittihad, deprived the team of their first victory in more than 30 days.

Mohamed Abou-Treika handed Ahli an early lead but ex-Ahli striker Hani Al-Egeizi brought Ittihad level few minutes later.

In-form Cameroonian striker Edet Otobong put Ittihad in front with a free header but Geddo restored parity after beating the offside trap.

The second half was a dull affair, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut opportunities.

Ahli, who eye a seventh consecutive league title, lie fifth in the table with 20 points, seven behind Zamalek who played a game more.

Ittihad remain in the danger zone with 10 points but moved to within one point of safety.

Defensive Gaps

A swift move involving lively attacking midfielder Afrotto, who was a constant menace to Ittihad defenders, gave Ahli the lead after 10 minutes.

The 21-year-old outpaced former Egypt defender Ibrahim Saied and latched onto a through pass from right-back Sherif Abdul-Fadil before pulling the ball back for Abou-Treika after the keeper rushed out.

Abou-Treika's low shot went in off a defender but he still did little to prove critics wrong after a sluggish performance allowed Ittihad defenders to keep him at bay afterwards.

Ittihad equalized on 14 minutes when Ahli keeper Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud, who was given the chance to play regularly after Sherif Ekrami was injured, could only parry an innocuous shot into the path of Al-Egeizi to notch home on the rebound.

The hosts continued to expose the gaps in Ahli's defense, with sweeper Hossam Ghaly, a natural central midfielder, unable to carry out his new duties and central defensive duo Mohamed Samir and Wael Gomaa looking out of sorts.

Ittihad went ahead in the 23rd minute after the pacey Otobong caught Gomaa napping to head home Mohamed Fawzi's pinpoint cross from the right for his eighth league goal.

But they were punished when they tried to implement an offside trap eight minutes later as Geddo broke it after neatly controlling a long ball inside the area before sending a low shot into the bottom corner with aplomb.

Afortto and Geddo, who gave Ittihad defenders torrid time, were surprisingly replaced in the second half.

Ahli's tempo slowed down following their substitution and Ittihad could have even claimed all three points but Otobong and Al-Egeizi spurned two golden opportunities.