The talented forward failed to sparkle in Zamalek's 3-1 comeback win over promoted Smouha in the Egyptian Premier League and was replaced with 12 minutes remaining.

TV cameras caught him making a silencing gesture to Mansour, who won an appeal against the validity of Zamalek's 2009 presidential elections on Wednesday, while on his way to the dugout.

He also called on Zamalek fans to cheer incumbent president Mamdouh Abbas, who may leave his post in the next few days following a court ruling to disband the club's board of directors.

"We told the players before the match that we have nothing to do with the ongoing administrative problems," Zamalek assistant coach Tarek Soliman told FilGoal.com after the game.

"Shikabala ignored our orders tonight. His behavior was unacceptable.

"He will be punished because he intervened in the issue which is not related to football. We represent Zamalek, not Abbas or Mansour."

Shikabala snubbed a move to Belgian giants Anderlecht and penned a new contract with Zamalek last month.

However, reports suggest that he might leave the club if Mansour became the new chairman, given his frosty relationship with the outspoken lawyer.

Mansour, who had a brief spell as Zamalek chairman in 2006 before being sacked by the Egyptian National Sports Council, criticized Shikabala's 'childish acts' on several occasions.

Important Win

Zamalek avoided extending their winless streak to three matches after coming from behind to beat Smouha in their first ever meeting with the Alexandria-based club.

It was their second win in five league matches which came at a perfect time for the crisis-hit Cairo outfit.

Former Ahli striker Ahmed Belal gave Smouha the lead after 19 minutes but central defender Hani Saied leveled the score three minutes later.

Two second-half goals from Qatari attacking midfielder Hussein Yasser and Egyptian international defender Mahmoud Fathallah sealed the victory for the visitors.

"Our performance was not good but it was a very important win to lift the players' morale," Soliman, who attends the post-match news conferences instead of head coach Hossam Hassan, said.

"We have big problems in defense and midfield. Our strikers are also unlucky in front of goal."