Shikabala facts for kids
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Shikabala with Zamalek in 2024
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mahmoud Abdelrazek Hassan Fadlala | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 5 March 1986 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Edfu, Aswan, Egypt | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 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) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2025 | Zamalek | 135 | (21) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | → Ismaily (loan) | 8 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | → Al-Raed (loan) | 21 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | → Apollon Smyrni (loan) | 10 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 350 | (75) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Egypt U20 | 4 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2018 | Egypt | 32 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 January 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mahmoud Abdelrazek Hassan Fadlala (born March 5, 1986), known by his nickname Shikabala, is an Egyptian former professional footballer. He played as a forward. Many people consider him one of the best Egyptian football players ever. He was often named "Best Player in Egypt" in different seasons.
Shikabala was known for his amazing dribbling skills. He could also create chances for others and shoot powerfully with his left foot from far away. He started his career with the Zamalek youth team. Later, he played for clubs in Greece and Portugal. He also had loan spells with teams in the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Greece. He always returned to Zamalek, his home club.
He was part of the Egyptian team that won the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. He also played for his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Shikabala won 18 titles with Zamalek during his long career. He announced his retirement from professional football on July 3, 2025. Egyptian fans called him the "Apache." His nickname "Shikabala" came from a Zambian striker named Webster Chikabala.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting Out in Football
Shikabala joined the Zamalek SC youth academy when he was just 8 years old. He played his first game for the main team in early 2002. He scored the winning goal in a cup match when he was only 16.
He stayed with the main team but did not play much at first. In January 2005, he moved to PAOK FC in Greece. He had a good season there. Even though PAOK wanted him to stay, Shikabala returned to Egypt in 2006 for military service.
Returning to Zamalek
When Shikabala first came back to Egypt in January 2007, there was some debate. He almost signed with Al Ahly, Zamalek's biggest rival. But he really wanted to return to Zamalek. The club's chairman and a teammate convinced him to come back.
Shikabala had a fantastic start, scoring the winning goal in his first game back for Zamalek. He quickly became a key player. On July 2, 2007, he scored his first goal against Al Ahly in a cup final. The game was exciting, ending 4-3 for Al Ahly.
By the 2007–08 season, Shikabala was a huge fan favorite. Fans sang his name and had special chants for him. He faced a ban after some unfriendly chants from Al Ahly fans during a derby match. But he ended the season well, as Zamalek won the cup. This was the club's first trophy in four years.
Growing as a Player
Shikabala missed the start of the 2008–09 season because of a ban from FIFA. He returned later that year in great form. 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's guidance, Shikabala became a more consistent player. Before this, he would sometimes play brilliantly but then disappear from games. In the 2010–11 season, Shikabala and Hassan helped Zamalek reach the top of the league. Zamalek stayed there for a while but then Al Ahly won the league. Still, Shikabala was the top scorer with 13 goals. He also made two amazing assists against Al Ahly.
Shikabala was always a fan favorite and a big star for Zamalek. The club refused many offers for him and made him the highest-paid player in Egypt. He was known for his skills, especially against Al Ahly. The team often relied on him.
Loan to Al Wasl
In July 2012, Shikabala was loaned to Al Wasl in the UAE for one year. He chose the number 10 jersey, which he also wore at Zamalek. In his first friendly match, he assisted two goals. In his official debut, he was the best player, scoring a free-kick and assisting two other goals. He continued to score and assist in league games.
When Al Wasl's coach, Bruno Metsu, left due to illness, Shikabala scored in the next game. He then went to a picture of Metsu and kissed it, showing his respect. This act earned him praise from fans and media.
However, Shikabala later had a problem with the club. After a big loss, he was seen with a famous singer at a concert. This upset many Al Wasl fans and the club's board. He also got injured and returned late from treatment in Egypt. Because of this, Al Wasl ended his loan contract early.
Back to Zamalek Again
After his loan ended, Shikabala could not play for Zamalek for the rest of the 2012–13 season. He made his return on July 24, 2013, in a 2013 CAF Champions League match against Al Ahly. He played well in the Champions League, scoring 2 goals and assisting 2.
Zamalek then played in the 2013 Egypt Cup. Shikabala played all four matches and helped Zamalek win the cup. They beat Wadi Degla 3-0 in the final. Shikabala had 4 assists and scored one goal in the tournament. This goal was a fantastic free-kick from far away in the final. In his first 10 games back, he scored 3 goals and had 6 assists.
In late 2013, Shikabala had another disagreement. He did not show up for training and wanted to end his contract. He said he had not been paid for three years. On January 5, 2014, he officially ended his contract with Zamalek. Many fans were upset. But because he loved his childhood club, he decided to sign with Zamalek again. This way, Zamalek could get money if he moved to another club.
Time in Portugal
On January 29, 2014, Shikabala signed with the Portuguese club Sporting CP. He wore the number 7 jersey. He played his first game for the reserve team on February 16, 2014. He had to leave the game early due to a small ankle injury.
Shikabala did not play much for Sporting's main team. He made only a few appearances for the reserve team and one for the first team. His most memorable moment was scoring a goal in a friendly match.
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.
More Returns to Zamalek
On August 27, 2015, Zamalek officially signed Shikabala again after his time in Portugal. He signed a five-year contract. He was immediately loaned to Ismaily SC in Egypt because Zamalek's team was full. After the 2015–16 season, he returned to Zamalek and became the team captain.
Loans to Saudi Arabia and Greece
After a loan spell at Saudi Arabian club Al-Raed in 2017–18, where he scored 11 goals, Shikabala was loaned again. In August 2018, he joined Apollon Smyrni in the Greek Superleague.
Final Years with Zamalek and Retirement
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On June 30, 2019, Shikabala returned to Zamalek for his third time. In these final years 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 and 2025.
At the continental level, he won the CAF Super Cup in 2020 and the CAF Confederation Cup in 2023–24. He won the 2024 CAF Super Cup after Zamalek beat Al Ahly in a penalty shootout. This match was known as the "African Super of the Century." This was Shikabala's third and Zamalek's fifth CAF Super Cup title.
On July 3, 2025, Shikabala announced his retirement from professional football. He won 18 titles with Zamalek. He shared his retirement in an emotional TV interview, where he struggled to hold back tears. This marked the end of a great career that lasted over two decades.
Playing for His Country
Shikabala played his first international game for Egypt on June 3, 2007. It was an Africa Cup of Nations qualification match. While he was not always a main player, he appeared in important games for Egypt.
He was part of Egypt's team that won the 2010 African Cup of Nations. Egypt won the tournament for the seventh time. He decided to stop playing for the national team in 2010. He said it was because of unfriendly comments he heard from fans during club games. However, he was called back to the team in August 2012.
After a three-year break, he returned to the national team on November 12, 2017. He scored his second international goal against Ghana in a World Cup qualifier. In June 2018, Shikabala was chosen to play for Egypt in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
How Shikabala Played
Shikabala was not a typical winger. He often played in a free role, either as a forward or an attacking midfielder behind the main forwards. He was known for his amazing dribbling, great vision, and excellent ball control. He was also good at passing and creating chances.
He scored many goals with powerful shots from outside the box using his left foot. He was also very good at setting up goals for his teammates. His style involved skillful close control and using tricks to get past defenders. He was famous for weaving past opponents with small touches. While his skills were clear, he was also known for being a bit unpredictable at times.
Career Statistics
Club Games
| 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 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | ||
| 2004–05 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 2 | ||
| 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 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 16 | ||
| 2011–12 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | ||
| 2012–13 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | ||
| 2015–16 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 3 | ||
| 2016–17 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 6 | ||
| 2018–19 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 5 | ||
| 2023–24 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 29 | 8 | ||
| 2024–25 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||
| Total | 277 | 50 | 49 | 10 | 70 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 404 | 77 | ||
| 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 | 1 | 24 | 11 | |
| Apollon Smyrnis | 2018–19 | SLG | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| Career total | 359 | 70 | 54 | 12 | 74 | 10 | 21 | 8 | 498 | 100 | ||
International Games
| 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 |
Trophies and Awards
Here are some of the major trophies Shikabala won during his career:
- Zamalek
- Egyptian Premier League: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2020–21, 2021–22
- Egypt Cup: 2007–08, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2024–25
- Egyptian Super Cup: 2017, 2020
- 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)
- EFA Egyptian Player of the Year: 2011
See also
In Spanish: Shikabala para niños
