WATCH: Bafana Bafana striker Fagrie Lakay scores crucial goal as Ceramica Cleopatra see off National Bank for third straight Egyptian League Cup

South African striker Fagrie Lakay was on target as Ceramica Cleopatra defeated National Bank 2-0 to win their third straight Egyptian League Cup on Thursday.

The cup champions broke the deadlock when Mohamed Roda scored the opening goal before Lakay found the back of the net with a crucial goal in the 79th minute.

Lakay's Cleopatra qualified for this year’s final when they beat Ismaily by a 3-0 aggregate win over the two-leg encounter. On the other hand, the National Bank advanced to the ultimate showdown after their 2-1 aggregate victory over Enppi.

By winning the Egyptian League Cup, Lakay's side will be among the teams that will take part in the Egyptian Super Cup, alongside Ahly, Zamalek SC, and a fourth team to be announced later.

Lakay, with seven goals in 35 matches, has been an impressive player for Cleopatra, a side he is serving on a loan deal from Pyramids FC.

The former Cape Town City forward joined the 2024/25 Caf Champions League winners on a two-and-a-half-year deal in January 2022 but was later loaned out.

The arrival of former Kaizer Chiefs' transfer target Fiston Mayele complicated Lakay's position at the club, as Krunoslav Jurcic favoured the former Young Africans striker.

Lakay joined Cleopatra in October last year, and the move looks to have been the best career decision he made, given the number of minutes he has been involved in and his key contributions to the club since then.

Meanwhile, this is the striker's second trophy in Egypt after he lifted the Egyptian Cup final with Pyramids last season.

His exploits in the north show that the 28-year-old can still deliver, although he has been overlooked for national assignments in recent times.

After Lakay's vital contributions, it remains to be seen whether Cleopatra will make his contract permanent.

Rumours of Lakay returning to the Premier Soccer League have also been reported, although it is unlikely that Cleopatra will not put up a fight for him.