CAIRO (Interstat) — A solitary second-half goal from veteran striker Ahmed Meteb was enough to secure a narrow victory for National Bank of Egypt Club over Pharco FC in an Egyptian Premier League match on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.

Playing before a crowd at Cairo International Stadium, the home side delivered a performance that aligned almost perfectly with pregame projections, grinding out a 1-0 result that was widely anticipated. Statistical analysis firm Interstat had simulated a 1-0 outcome for National Bank of Egypt Club and gave the club a 75.6% probability of victory based on its ELO rating system.

The match’s decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute. Meteb, who had entered the referee’s book just minutes earlier, found space in the Pharco penalty area and finished with a precise right-footed shot to break the deadlock. His goal transformed what had been a tense and often fractious contest, ensuring the home side began its league campaign with a win.

The game was characterized more by physical midfield battles than fluid attacking play, a fact reflected in the officiating. Referee issued four yellow cards, with three distributed before Meteb’s winner. Pharco’s Mohamed Camacho was cautioned in the 23rd minute, followed by a booking for National Bank of Egypt Club’s Mahmoud Abdelhalim in the 44th. The intensity spilled over in a two-minute span midway through the second half, with Pharco’s Ahmed Khattab seeing yellow in the 70th minute, followed immediately by Meteb in the 71st.

With the victory, National Bank of Egypt Club opens its Premier League season with a perfect record of one win and no losses, a mark that also reflects its overall record across all competitions this season. The club will look to build on this momentum in its upcoming fixtures.

For the visiting Pharco FC, the defeat marks a disappointing start to their league campaign. They now hold a record of no wins and one loss in the Premier League, mirroring their overall season tally. The team struggled to create clear-cut chances against a disciplined National Bank of Egypt Club defense and will need to find more offensive potency as the season progresses.

The result leaves National Bank of Egypt Club with three points from its opening match, while Pharco is left to regroup with zero. The Egyptian Premier League season continues this weekend with a full slate of matches across the country.