Wikiwand AI

2020–21 Egyptian Premier League

Football league season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2020–21 Egyptian Premier League, also known as The WE Egyptian Premier League for sponsorship purposes, was the 62nd season of the Egyptian Premier League, the top Egyptian professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1948. The season started on 11 December 2020 and is concluded on 28 August 2021. Fixtures for the 2020–21 season was announced one week before the start of the competition.

Season2020–21
Dates11 December 2020 – 28 August 2021
ChampionsZamalek
13th title
RelegatedWadi Degla
El Entag El Harby
Aswan
Quick facts Season, Dates ...
Egyptian Premier League
Season2020–21
Dates11 December 2020 – 28 August 2021
ChampionsZamalek
13th title
RelegatedWadi Degla
El Entag El Harby
Aswan
Champions League[a]Zamalek
Al Ahly
Confederation Cup[b]Pyramids
Al Masry
Matches306
Goals765 (2.5 per match)
Top goalscorerMohamed Sherif
(21 goals)
Biggest home winPyramids 6–0 Ghazl El Mahalla
(28 August 2021)
Biggest away winMisr Lel Makkasa 0–5 Pyramids
(25 August 2021)
Highest scoringNational Bank of Egypt 5–3 Misr Lel Makkasa
(18 August 2021)
Longest winning run8 matches
Zamalek
Longest unbeaten run19 matches
Zamalek
Longest winless run14 matches
El Entag El Harby
Longest losing run6 matches
Misr Lel Makkasa
Close

The season was initially scheduled to start in July, but was delayed to November and later to December due to effects and consequence of the postponement of the previous season's conclusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt.[2]

Al Ahly were the defending champions, having won their 5th consecutive and 42nd overall league title in the previous season. Zamalek secured their 13th league title and their first since 2015 with two games to spare; ending Al Ahly's five-year dominance.

Teams

Locations of the 2020–21 Egyptian Premier League teams

Eighteen teams will compete in the league - the top fifteen teams from the previous season, and three teams promoted from the Egyptian Second Division.

Teams promoted to the Egyptian Premier League
On 12 October 2020, National Bank of Egypt secured promotion for the first time in their history following a 1–1 draw with Asyut Petroleum in the final round, in which they finished the season at the top of Group A with equal points with second-placed Beni Suef, but they beat them on head-to-head points.[3]

Ghazl El Mahalla became the second team to be promoted on 13 October, after spending four years in the Second Division, as they ended their season at the top of Group C, winning in the last round 2–1 against Olympic Club, thus having a two-point lead ahead of Pharco.[4]

Ceramica Cleopatra were promoted for the first time in their history on 15 October, as they finished their season at the top of Group B, following a goalless draw with Gomhoriat Shebin in the last round, thus they were one point ahead of second-placed Petrojet.[5]

Teams relegated to the Egyptian Second Division
The first club to be relegated was Tanta, who suffered an immediate return to the Egyptian Second Division following Wadi Degla's 4–1 away win against El Entag El Harby on 28 September 2020, which assured the relegation of the El Gharbia-based side. Despite having a decent start early in the previous season, Tanta's performance was progressively worsened and eventually led the club to go on a 17-game winless run and finish on bottom of the table.[6]

The second club to be relegated was FC Masr, who also suffered an immediate return to the Egyptian Second Division following a 1–1 home draw with ENPPI on 3 October 2020 that confirmed the club's relegation. The club did not enjoy a good success in their first-ever season in top flight as they managed to win only 3 matches and conceded more goals that any other club in the league.[7]

Haras El Hodoud became the last club to be relegated on 12 October, as they lost 1–2 to Zamalek in the 33rd round; thus returning to the Second Division after only two seasons in the top tier.[8]

Venues

More information Al Ahly, Aswan ...
Al Ahly Aswan Ceramica Cleopatra
Al Salam Stadium Aswan Stadium Suez Stadium
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 27,000
ENPPI El Entag El Harby Ghazl El Mahalla
Petro Sport Stadium Al Salam Stadium Ghazl El Mahalla Stadium
Capacity: 16,000 Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 14,564
El Gouna Ismaily Al Ittihad
Khaled Bichara Stadium Ismailia Stadium Alexandria Stadium
Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 18,525 Capacity: 19,676
Al Masry Misr Lel Makkasa Al Mokawloon Al Arab
Borg El Arab Stadium[c] TBD[d] Osman Ahmed Osman Stadium
Capacity: TBD Capacity: TBD Capacity: 35,000
National Bank of Egypt Pyramids Smouha
Arab Contractors Stadium[e] 30 June Stadium Alexandria Stadium
Capacity: TBD Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 19,676
Tala'ea El Gaish Wadi Degla Zamalek
Gehaz El Reyada Stadium Petro Sport Stadium Cairo International Stadium
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 16,000 Capacity: 75,000
Close
Notes
  1. [a]
    The 2020–21 Egyptian Premier League was not finished by the CAF deadline. As a result, the Egyptian Football Association announced that Zamalek and Al Ahly, who were at first and second place after 29 rounds respectively, would represent Egypt in the Champions League.[1]
  2. [b]
    The 2020–21 Egypt Cup was not finished by the CAF deadline. As a result, the Egyptian Football Association announced that Al Masry and Pyramids, who were at third and fourth place after 29 rounds respectively, would represent Egypt in the Confederation Cup.[1]
  3. [c]
    Al Masry's home stadium, Al Masry Club Stadium, will be unavailable for the 2020–21 season as it's undergoing renovation, and as a result will be required to choose another stadium to be used as their home venue for the 2020–21 season.
  4. [d]
    Misr Lel Makkasa's home stadium, Faiyum Stadium, did not receive approval from local authorities to host the club's home matches for the 2020–21 season yet, and as a result the club might be required to choose another stadium to be used as their home venue for this season.
  5. [e]
    National Bank of Egypt's home stadium, National Bank of Egypt Stadium, did not meet the EFA requirements to host Egyptian Premier League matches, and as a result will be required to choose another stadium to be used as their home venue for the 2020–21 season.

Personnel and kits

More information Team, Manager ...
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Al Ahly South Africa Pitso Mosimane Egypt Mohamed El Shenawy Umbro WE, SAIB Bank, Royal Dutch Shell1, Tiger Chips1, GLC Paints2
Aswan Egypt Alaa Abdelaal Mohamed Gaber Puma WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Ceramica Cleopatra Egypt Haitham Shaaban Amer Mohamed Kelme Ceramica Cleopatra Group
ENPPI Egypt Helmy Toulan Egypt Ramy Sabry Nike WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
El Entag El Harby Egypt Ahmed Abdel Moneim Ahmed Yehia Uhlsport WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Ghazl El Mahalla Egypt Khaled Eid Mohamed Fathalla Kelme Misr Life Insurance
El Gouna Egypt Reda Shehata Nour El Sayed Adidas Orascom Group
Ismaily Egypt Ehab Galal Mohamed Sobhy Jako WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Al Ittihad Egypt Hossam Hassan Xtep WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Al Masry Egypt Ali Maher Nike WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Makkassa Egypt Mohamed Azima Nike WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Al Mokawloon Al Arab Egypt Emad El Nahhas Egypt Mahmoud Abou El Saoud Kelme WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
National Bank of Egypt Egypt Khaled Galal Nike National Bank of Egypt
Pyramids Greece Takis Gonias Egypt Abdallah El Said Puma Swyp2, TikTok
Smouha Egypt Ahmed Samy Egypt Ahmed Homos Kelme WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
El Geish Egypt Abdel Hamid Bassiouny Egypt Mohamed Bassam Kelme WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Wadi Degla Chile Mario Salas Sigma Fit WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Zamalek France Patrice Carteron Egypt Shikabala Puma Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair, Lactel
Close
1. ^On the back of shirt.
2. ^On the sleeves.
  • WE, Oppo, El Kasrawy Group, SAIB Bank, EgyptAir and GLC Paints are the league's main sponsors, and their logos are printed on most teams' kits.
  • Referee kits are made by Puma.

Managerial changes

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Number of Matches Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
National Bank of Egypt Egypt Eid Maraziq Resigned 15 October 2020[9] Pre-season Egypt Mohamed Youssef 19 October 2020[10]
Pyramids Croatia Ante Čačić Sacked 1 November 2020[11] Pre-season Argentina Rodolfo Arruabarrena
Ismaily Brazil Heron Ferreira Sacked 3 Matches 21 December 2020 8th Egypt Talaat Youssef 22 December 2020
Ismaily Egypt Talaat Youssef Resigned 0 Matches 24 December 2020 8th Egypt Saafan El-Sagheer 24 December 2020
Tala'ea El Gaish Egypt Tarek El Ashry Resigned 5 Matches 2 January 2021 Egypt Abdel Hamid Bassiouny 4 January 2021
Aswan Egypt Sami El-Sheshini Sacked 6 Matches 10 January 2021 Egypt Alaa Abdelaal 10 January 2021
Ismaily Egypt Saafan El-Sagheer Interim January 2021 Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Jović 29 January 2021
Wadi Degla Cyprus Nikodimos Papavasiliou Sacked 21 January 2021 Chile Mario Salas 1 February 2021
Ismaily Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Jović Resigned 18 March 2021 Egypt Ehab Galal 19 March 2021
Misr Lel Makkasa Egypt Ehab Galal Signed by Ismaily 19 March 2021 Egypt Mohamed Azima 24 March 2021
Wadi Degla Chile Mario Salas Sacked 27 May 2021 Egypt Abdul Baki Jamal 27 May 2021
Misr Lel Makkasa Egypt Mohamed Azima Resigned 28 June 2021 Egypt Mohamed Abdel-Galil 29 June 2021
Pyramids Argentina Rodolfo Arruabarrena Sacked 1 July 2021 Greece Takis Gonias 10 January 2021
Close

Foreign players

Clubs can have a maximum of four foreign players registered during the season. Clubs cannot sign foreign players unless these players have played in the first or second tier in their countries. Clubs also cannot sign any foreign goalkeepers. In addition, each club can register a player from Palestine, Syria, or the UNAF region; those players are not counted as foreign players. Also, any foreign player who holds Egyptian nationality is not considered a foreign player and will be registered as a local player. For example, Al Masry's player Mahmoud Wadi of Palestine holds both Palestinian and Egyptian nationalities, and as a result he is not registered as a foreign player.

  • Players name followed with † indicates the player is playing out on loan.
  • Players name followed with § indicates the player is playing for the club on loan.
  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
  • Players name in ITALICS indicates the player has left the club during the mid-season transfer window.
More information Club, Player 1 ...
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Under contract Former players
Al Ahly Democratic Republic of the Congo Walter Bwalya Mali Aliou Dieng Nigeria Junior Ajayi Morocco Badr Benoun Tunisia Ali Maâloul Senegal Aliou Badji Angola Geraldo
Aswan Ghana Solomon Mensah Kenya John Avire Burkina Faso Moussa Dao
Rwanda Jean-Claude Iranzi
Ceramica Cleopatra Ghana Kwame Bonsu Ghana Winnful Cobbina Ivory Coast Fonsinho Ghana Maxwell Baakoh Tunisia Seif Teka
ENPPI Burundi Fiston Abdul Razak Liberia Tonia Tisdell Tanzania Himid Mao Tunisia Ziad Boughettas
El Entag El Harby Ivory Coast Mohamed Sanogo Vieira Ivory Coast Abdul Wahab Hanan Mauritania Mamadou Ndioko Niass Palestine Badr Mousa
Tunisia Rafik Kamergi		 Tunisia Aymen Trabelsi
Guinea Moussa Diawara
Ghazl El Mahalla Nigeria Emmanuel Karbogi Nigeria Moses Odo
El Gouna Ivory Coast Serge Arnaud Aka Uganda Allan Kyambadde Cameroon Joseph Ngwem Tunisia Mohamed Lahbib Yeken Zambia Walter Bwalya
Ismaily Tunisia Marouane Sahraoui Angola Ary Papel Namibia Benson Shilongo Algeria Redouane Cherifi Tunisia Fakhreddine Ben Youssef Guinea-Bissau Piqueti
Iraq Humam Tariq
Uganda Patrick Kaddu
Ittihad Jamaica Damion Lowe Uganda Emmanuel Okwi Ivory Coast Razack Cissé Syria Omar Midani Togo Wilson Akakpo
Libya Mohamed Anis Saltou
Al Masry Burkina Faso Saïdou Simporé Nigeria Austin Amutu Nigeria Emeka Christian Eze Democratic Republic of the Congo Kazadi Kasengu Palestine Mohammed Saleh Libya Muftah Taktak
Ivory Coast Cheick Moukoro
Palestine Mahmoud Wadi
Misr El Makasa Ethiopia Shimelis Bekele Rwanda Kevin Muhire Libya Muftah Taktak Madagascar Paulin Voavy Morocco Ahmed Marchuh
Al Mokawloon Al Arab Burkina Faso Farouck Kabore Colombia Luis Hinestroza Burkina Faso Maarouf Youssef
Nigeria Jacob Njoku
National Bank of Egypt Burkina Faso Mohamed Koffi Angola Estrela Burkina Faso Maarouf Youssef Guinea Moussa Diawara Tunisia Mohamed Methnani
Pyramids Burkina Faso Eric Traoré Ghana John Antwi Ivory Coast Wilfried Kanon Uganda Lumala Abdu Tunisia Amor Layouni
Palestine Mahmoud Wadi		 Brazil Ribamar†
Palestine Hamed Hamdan
Peru Cristian Benavente†		 Brazil Keno
Nigeria Azubuike Okechukwu
Smouha Tunisia Rafik Kabou Democratic Republic of the Congo Eddy Ngoyi Guinea Maguette Diop Uganda Derrick Nsibambi Libya Mohamed Al Tarhoni
Tala'ea El Gaish Gabon Franck Engonga Obame Ivory Coast Ibrahim Kone Guinea-Bissau Toni Gomes Senegal Talla N'Diaye
Wadi Degla Ghana Issahaku Yakubu Guinea-Bissau Jorginho Ghana Rodney Antwi Ecuador Diego Calderón Tunisia Iheb Mbarki
Zamalek Morocco Hamid Ahadad Morocco Achraf Bencharki Tunisia Seifeddine Jaziri Tunisia Ferjani Sassi Tunisia Hamza Mathlouthi Morocco Mohamed Ounajem
Close

Results

League table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Zamalek[a] (C) 34 24 8 2 61 21 +40 80 Qualification for the Champions League
2 Al Ahly[a] 34 22 10 2 72 29 +43 76
3 Pyramids[a] 34 13 16 5 51 37 +14 55 Qualification for the Confederation Cup
4 Smouha 34 12 18 4 54 41 +13 54
5 Al Masry[a] 34 13 11 10 44 38 +6 50 Qualification for the Confederation Cup
6 ENPPI 34 12 13 9 37 35 +2 49
7 Al Ittihad 34 12 12 10 35 35 0 48
8 Tala'ea El Gaish 34 10 12 12 41 37 +4 42
9 Al Mokawloon Al Arab 34 11 8 15 37 45 −8 41
10 Ceramica Cleopatra 34 8 15 11 41 46 −5 39
11 Ismaily[b] 34 10 11 13 42 44 −2 38
12 El Gouna 34 8 14 12 36 41 −5 38
13 Misr Lel Makkasa 34 10 8 16 36 54 −18 38
14 National Bank of Egypt 34 6 17 11 39 44 −5 35
15 Ghazl El Mahalla 34 7 14 13 28 41 −13 35
16 Wadi Degla (R) 34 5 15 14 29 38 −9 30 Relegation to the Second Division
17 El Entag El Harby (R) 34 5 13 16 35 60 −25 28
18 Aswan (R) 34 6 9 19 29 61 −32 27
Close
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-Head points; 3) Head-to-Head goal difference; 4) Head-to-Head goals scored; 5) Head-to-Head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.
(Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. [a]
    The 2020–21 Egyptian Premier League was not finished by the CAF deadline. As a result, the Egyptian Football Association announced that Zamalek and Al Ahly, who were at first and second place after 29 rounds respectively, will represent Egypt in the 2021–22 CAF Champions League. Meanwhile, Al Masry and Pyramids FC, who were at third and fourth place after 29 rounds respectively, will represent Egypt in the 2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup.[12]
  2. [b]
    Ismaily were deducted 3 points.


Results table

More information Home \ Away, AHL ...
Home \ Away AHL ASW CCL ENP ENT GMH GOU ISM ITH MAS MMK MOK NBE PYR SMO TGS WDG ZAM
Al Ahly — 2–1 4–0 2–0 4–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–2 3–1 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–1
Aswan 1–3 — 1–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–1 0–2 0–2 2–3 2–4 1–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 2–1 1–4 0–0
Ceramica Cleopatra 0–2 1–1 — 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 2–3 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–2
ENPPI 1–3 0–1 2–1 — 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 3–2 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–2
El Entag El Harby 2–3 1–1 0–2 0–0 — 0–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–3 2–1 1–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–2 2–2 0–2
Ghazl El Mahalla 1–0 0–1 0–2 1–0 1–3 — 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 0–0 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–1
El Gouna 3–3 1–1 3–2 1–0 2–3 0–0 — 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–2 2–2 0–4 2–0 0–0
Ismaily 0–2 3–2 1–2 1–1 3–3 3–1 3–2 — 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 0–2 0–0 0–2 0–2
Al Ittihad 1–2 1–3 0–0 0–1 2–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 — 1–1 2–1 4–2 0–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–2
Al Masry 1–2 3–0 2–2 1–3 2–3 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 — 0–0 3–1 0–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–1
Misr Lel Makkasa 1–4 1–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 0–4 1–1 — 0–0 3–5 0–5 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–1
Al Mokawloon Al Arab 0–2 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–3 0–1 3–2 — 2–0 0–2 1–2 0–1 1–0 0–2
National Bank of Egypt 0–0 2–2 1–1 2–3 3–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–1 — 0–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1
Pyramids 0–0 2–0 2–4 1–1 3–2 6–0 1–1 2–2 1–2 0–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 — 0–3 1–0 1–1 1–1
Smouha 0–1 5–0 0–0 1–1 4–2 1–1 3–1 0–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 — 4–2 2–1 0–2
Tala'ea El Gaish 0–0 3–0 2–2 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 0–0 1–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 — 1–0 1–2
Wadi Degla 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–3 1–1 2–1 4–2 1–3 1–2 0–1 — 0–0
Zamalek 1–2 3–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–2 4–1 2–2 4–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 —
Close
Source: Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Season statistics

Goalkeeping

Most Cleansheets

More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player Club Cleansheets
1 Egypt Mohamed El Shenawy Al Ahly 12
Egypt Mohamed Bassam Tala'ea El Gaish
3 Egypt Mohamed Abou Gabal Zamalek 10
Egypt Islam Tarek El Gouna
Egypt Mohamed Sobhy Al Ittihad Alexandria
6 Egypt Mohamed Abdel Monsef Wadi Degla 10
7 Egypt Amr Shaaban Ghazl El Mahalla 9
8 Egypt Ahmed Masoud Al Masry 8
Egypt Mahmoud El Zonfouly National Bank of Egypt
Egypt Mahmoud Gad ENPPI
Close

Scoring

Top scorers

More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Egypt Mohamed Sherif Al Ahly 21
2 Egypt Mostafa Fathi Smouha 17
3 Morocco Achraf Bencharki Zamalek 15
Egypt Ahmed Yasser Rayyan Ceramica Cleopatra
5 Egypt Omar Kamal Al Masry 13
6 Egypt Basem Morsy Misr Lel Makkasa 12
Egypt Karim Bambo National Bank of Egypt
8 Egypt Ahmed Samir Tala'ea El Gaish 11
Ethiopia Shimelis Bekele Misr Lel Makkasa
Tunisia Fakhreddine Ben Youssef Ismaily
Egypt Ahmed Ali National Bank of Egypt
Egypt Omar El Said El Gouna
Egypt Mostafa El Badry El Entag El Harby
Close

Assists

Top Assists

More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player Club Assists
1 Tunisia Ali Maâloul Al Ahly 12
2 Egypt Hussein El Shahat Al Ahly 10
Egypt Amr El Halwani Aswan
4 Egypt Mohamed Magdy Afsha Al Ahly 8
5 Egypt Ahmed Refaat Al Masry 7
Morocco Achraf Bencharki Zamalek
7 Egypt Ahmed Sayed Zizo Zamalek 6
Egypt Mostafa Fathi Smouha
Egypt Amr Gamal Tala'ea El Gaish
Egypt Abdallah El Said Pyramids
Close

Number of teams by governorate

More information Number of teams, Governorate ...
Number of teams Governorate Team(s)
9 Cairo Al Ahly, ENPPI, El Entag El Harby, Al Mokawloon Al Arab,
National Bank of Egypt, Pyramids, Tala'ea El Gaish, Wadi Degla and Zamalek
2 Alexandria Al Ittihad and Smouha
1 Aswan Aswan
Giza Ceramica Cleopatra
Faiyum Misr Lel Makkasa
El Gharbia Ghazl El Mahalla
Ismailia Ismaily
Port Said Al Masry
Red Sea El Gouna
Close

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks