Smouha SC advanced in the Egyptian League Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Haras El Hodood on January 12, 2026. The single-goal margin was enough to see Smouha progress to the next round of the domestic cup competition, avoiding a potential upset. The match, which kicked off at 02:00, was a tense affair with the only goal likely coming in the second half, after which Smouha managed the game professionally to see out the result against a stubborn Hodood side. This victory keeps Smouha's cup dreams alive and provides a morale boost, while for Haras El Hodood, their cup run ends in narrow defeat. The Smouha manager would have expressed relief at navigating a tricky tie, while the Hodood coach took pride in his team's competitive performance despite the elimination.