Shikabala facts for kids
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Shikabala with Zamalek in 2024
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 March 1986 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Edfu, Aswan, Egypt | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Winger | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Zamalek | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Aswan | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2002 | Zamalek | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2005 | Zamalek | 22 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | PAOK | 23 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2014 | Zamalek | 112 | (34) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | → Al Wasl (loan) | 13 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Sporting CP | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Sporting CP B | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015– | Zamalek | 135 | (16) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | → Ismaily (loan) | 8 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | → Al-Raed (loan) | 21 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | → Apollon Smyrni (loan) | 10 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Egypt U20 | 4 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2018 | Egypt | 32 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Mahmoud Abdelrazek Hassan Fadlala (born March 5, 1986), known by his nickname Shikabala, is an Egyptian professional footballer. He plays for the Egyptian Premier League club Zamalek. He also played for the Egypt national football team. He was part of the team that won the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. Zamalek fans call him "El Apache".
Shikabala grew up playing in Zamalek's youth teams. He has played for the Egyptian club for many years. Many people see him as one of the club's greatest players. He has also played for other teams like PAOK in Greece and Sporting CP in Portugal. He mainly plays as a right-winger. He can also play as a central attacking midfielder or a left winger.
Contents
Football Career
Starting Out
Shikabala joined the youth academy of Zamalek SC when he was 8 years old. He played his first game for the main team in a cup match in 2002. He scored the winning goal when he was just 16.
He stayed with the main team but did not play much. In January 2005, he left Zamalek to join PAOK in Greece. He had a good season with PAOK. Even though PAOK wanted him to stay, he returned to Zamalek for the 2006–07 season. He needed to return to Egypt for army duty.
Playing for Zamalek
When Shikabala first came back to Egypt in January 2007, there was some confusion. He almost signed with Al Ahly, Zamalek's biggest rival. But Zamalek's chairman and a teammate convinced him to come back to Zamalek.
Shikabala started his second time at Zamalek very well. He scored the winning goal in his first game back. He quickly became a key player for the team. On July 2, 2007, he scored his first goal in the big derby match against Al Ahly.
By the 2007–08 season, Shikabala was a huge fan favorite. Fans sang his name and had special songs for him. He faced a ban after an incident with rival fans. But he ended the season well, as Zamalek won the cup. This was the club's first trophy in four years.
Shikabala missed the start of the 2008–09 season because of a ban from FIFA. This ban was related to his transfer back to Zamalek. He returned in November and played well. However, Zamalek had a tough season, finishing 6th in the league.
The next season was similar until Hossam Hassan became coach in December 2009. Under Hassan, Shikabala became a more consistent player. He started to show his full potential.
In the 2010–11 season, Shikabala and Hassan helped Zamalek reach the top of the league. Zamalek stayed at the top for most of the season. But they lost their lead near the end, and Al Ahly won the league. Shikabala still finished as the top scorer with 13 goals.
Shikabala has been a beloved player for Zamalek fans. The club refused many offers for him. They made him the highest-paid player in Egypt's history.
Loan to Al Wasl
In July 2012, Zamalek agreed to loan Shikabala to Al Wasl in the United Arab Emirates. The loan was for one year. Shikabala chose the number 10 jersey, which he also wore at Zamalek.
In his first friendly match, he helped Al Wasl score two goals. In his official debut, he was named man of the match. He scored from a free-kick and assisted two other goals. He continued to play well, scoring and assisting in league games.
Shikabala showed his respect for his coach, Bruno Metsu, who stepped down due to illness. Shikabala scored a goal and then kissed a picture of Metsu. This act was praised by fans and media.
However, Shikabala later had a problem with the club. After a big loss, he was seen with a singer at a concert. This upset many Al Wasl fans and the club's board.
He continued to assist in many matches. But he got a thigh injury and had to miss a month of games. He went to Egypt for treatment. When he returned to Dubai later than expected, Al Wasl ended his loan contract.
Back to Zamalek
After his return from Al Wasl, Shikabala could not play for Zamalek for the rest of the 2012–13 season. This was because of rules about loan moves outside of CAF.
On July 24, 2013, Shikabala made his return debut for Zamalek. He played in a 2013 CAF Champions League match against Al Ahly. He played in all six group stage matches, scoring two goals and assisting two.
Zamalek then played in the 2013 Egypt Cup. Shikabala played all 90 minutes in every match. He helped Zamalek win the cup with a 3–0 victory against Wadi Degla. He had four assists and scored one goal in the final. After returning from Al Wasl, he scored three goals and had six assists in 10 games.
In late December 2013, Shikabala had another issue. He did not show up for training. He wanted to end his contract unless he was paid his overdue wages. On January 5, 2014, he officially ended his contract with Zamalek.
Many Zamalek fans were upset by his departure. But Shikabala decided to sign with Zamalek again. He wanted the club to benefit financially if he was sold to another team.
Sporting CP
On January 29, 2014, Shikabala signed with the Portuguese club Sporting CP. The deal was for $700,000. He traveled to Lisbon for a medical check and to sign the contract. He chose to wear the number 7 jersey at Sporting.
Shikabala played his first game for the reserve team on February 16, 2014. He started the match but left after 28 minutes due to a small ankle injury.
He played very few games for the main team. He mostly played for the reserve team. His most notable moment was scoring a goal in a friendly tournament.
In September 2014, Shikabala went to Egypt to play for his national team. He did not return to Sporting after that. His salary was stopped, and his house and car were taken.
Second Return to Zamalek
On August 27, 2015, Zamalek officially signed Shikabala again. He signed a five-year contract. He was immediately loaned to Ismaily SC because Zamalek's team was full. After the 2015–16 season, he returned to Zamalek as the team captain.
Loans to Al-Raed and Apollon Smyrnis
After a loan to Saudi Arabian club Al-Raed in 2017–18, Shikabala was loaned to Apollon Smyrni in Greece in August 2018.
Third Return to Zamalek
On June 30, 2019, Shikabala returned to Zamalek after his loan to Apollon Smyrni ended. In his third time with his home team, he won the Egyptian Premier League in the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons.
He also won the Egyptian Super Cup in 2019–20 and the Egypt Cup in 2021. On the international club level, he won the CAF Super Cup in 2020 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2023–24.
International Career
Shikabala played his first international game on June 3, 2007. It was an Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Mauritania.
He was part of Egypt's team in the 2010 African Cup of Nations. He played in one match. Egypt won the tournament for the seventh time. In 2010, he decided to stop playing for the national team for a while. He said it was because of bad comments he heard from rival fans.
However, on August 8, 2012, he was called up again for friendly matches. After a three-year break, he returned to the team on November 12, 2017. He scored his second international goal against Ghana. In June 2018, Shikabala was chosen to play for Egypt in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Zamalek | 2002–03 | EPL | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
| 2003–04 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | ||
| 2007–08 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 6 | ||
| 2008–09 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | ||
| 2009–10 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 7 | ||
| 2010–11 | 27 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 15 | ||
| 2011–12 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 | ||
| 2012–13 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | ||
| 2013–14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2016–17 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 5 | ||
| 2018–19 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 3 | ||
| 2020–21 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 5 | ||
| 2023–24 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 5 | ||
| 2024–25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 269 | 50 | 47 | 9 | 66 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 389 | 69 | ||
| PAOK | 2005–06 | SLG | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 |
| Al Wasl | 2012–13 | UPL | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | 17 | 5 | |
| Sporting | 2013–14 | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Sporting B | 2013–14 | Segunda Liga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Ismaily | 2015–16 | EPL | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| Al Raed | 2017–18 | SPL | 21 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | 24 | 10 | |
| Apollon Smyrnis | 2018–19 | SLG | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| Career total | 350 | 70 | 52 | 11 | 70 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 483 | 91 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 2007 | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 32 | 2 | |
- Scores and results list Egypt's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Shikabala goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 June 2007 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait | 2 |  Kuwait |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 12 November 2017 | Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana | 28 |  Ghana |
1–0 | 1–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Awards and Trophies
- Zamalek
- Egyptian Premier League: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2020–21, 2021–22
- Egypt Cup: 2007–08, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2020–21
- Egyptian Super Cup: 2017–18, 2019–20
- CAF Confederation Cup: 2023–24
- CAF Super Cup: 2003, 2020, 2024
- Arab Club Championship: 2003
- Saudi-Egyptian Super Cup: 2003
- Egypt National Team
- African Cup of Nations: 2010
- Nile Basin Tournament: 2011
- Individual Awards
- Egyptian Premier League top goalscorer: 2010–11 (Shared with Ahmed Abd El-Zaher)
- EFA Egyptian Player of the Year: 2011
Images for kids
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Shikabala playing for Zamalek in 2024
See also
In Spanish: Shikabala para niños
