Mahdi Suleiman has emerged as one of the standout goalkeepers in the Egyptian Premier League this season, with statistics showing that he has prevented almost two expected goals for Zamalek after five rounds.
The 39-year-old began last season as Zamalek’s third-choice goalkeeper behind Mohamed Awad and Mohamed Sobhi, but took his opportunity when it arrived and established himself as the club’s first-choice option.
Suleiman played an important role in Zamalek’s success last season as they won the Egyptian Premier League title and reached the final of the African Confederation Cup, where they lost to USM Alger on penalties.
While attacking players and goalscorers usually attract much of the attention at the beginning of a new campaign, Suleiman’s performances have provided a different story.
His contribution has been particularly significant in Zamalek’s defensive record and their position near the top of the league. He has already been named Man of the Match twice in the opening five games.
The goalkeeper’s statistics show that his influence has gone beyond simply keeping clean sheets.
1.97 goals prevented
Suleiman’s most striking figure is his 1.97 goals prevented, according to the Goals Prevented metric.
The statistic measures the difference between the number of goals a goalkeeper would be expected to concede based on the quality of the shots faced and the number that actually go into the net.
In Suleiman’s case, the available data suggests he was expected to concede 2.97 goals but allowed only one.
That figure puts him first among the goalkeepers included in the available data. Al-Qanah goalkeeper Mohamed Shaaban follows with 1.8 goals prevented, while Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Sobhi Suleiman has 1.4.
Suleiman has conceded only once, with that goal coming from a penalty, further highlighting his contribution to Zamalek’s defensive record.
94.1% save percentage
His numbers are also strong when it comes to stopping shots.
Suleiman has made 16 saves, giving him a save percentage of 94.1%.
That is the second-highest figure among Egyptian Premier League goalkeepers in the available data. Mohamed Alaa leads with 100%, while Ahmed El Shenawy is third with 90% and Sobhi Suleiman fourth with 85%.
However, the number of matches played provides important context. Alaa has appeared in only two games, while Suleiman has played in all five of Zamalek’s matches.
That means Suleiman’s percentage has been maintained across a larger number of appearances and shots faced.
Four clean sheets
Suleiman has also kept four clean sheets, putting him level at the top of that category with Ahmed El Shenawy and Sobhi Suleiman.
His overall defensive record becomes clearer when the clean sheets are considered alongside the goals conceded.
Suleiman has allowed just one goal, compared with three for Sobhi Suleiman, while El Shenawy has also conceded one.
| Statistic | Mahdi Suleiman | League ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Save percentage | 94.1% | Second |
| Goals prevented | 1.97 | First |
| Clean sheets | 4 | First |
The figures suggest that Suleiman’s strong start has not simply been the result of facing few difficult chances.
His high save percentage, 16 saves and 1.97 goals prevented indicate a goalkeeper who has dealt effectively with the opportunities that have reached his goal.
After five rounds, his contribution can therefore be measured across several areas rather than through clean sheets alone. His ability to keep the number of goals conceded low has made him an important part of Zamalek’s early-season results.
For a goalkeeper who began last season as the club’s third choice, Suleiman’s numbers now underline the scale of his influence between the posts.
