2020–21 Egyptian Premier League

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.

Egyptian Premier League
Season2020–21
Dates11 December 2020 – 28 August 2021
ChampionsZamalek
13th title
RelegatedWadi Degla
El Entag El Harby
Aswan
Champions League[lower-alpha 1]Zamalek
Al Ahly
Confederation Cup[lower-alpha 2]Al Masry
Pyramids
Matches played306
Goals scored765 (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

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
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[lower-alpha 3] TBD[lower-alpha 4] Osman Ahmed Osman Stadium
Capacity: TBD Capacity: TBD Capacity: 35,000
National Bank of Egypt Pyramids Smouha
Arab Contractors Stadium[lower-alpha 5] 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
Notes
  1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Al Ahly Pitso Mosimane Mohamed El Shenawy Umbro WE, SAIB Bank, Royal Dutch Shell1, Tiger Chips1, GLC Paints2
Aswan Alaa Abdelaal Mohamed Gaber Puma WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Ceramica Cleopatra Haitham Shaaban Amer Mohamed Kelme Ceramica Cleopatra Group
ENPPI Helmy Toulan Ramy Sabry Nike WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
El Entag El Harby Ahmed Abdel Moneim Ahmed Yehia Uhlsport WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Ghazl El Mahalla Khaled Eid Mohamed Fathalla Kelme Misr Life Insurance
El Gouna Reda Shehata Nour El Sayed Adidas Orascom Group
Ismaily Ehab Galal Mohamed Sobhy Jako WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Al Ittihad Hossam Hassan Xtep WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Al Masry Ali Maher Nike WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
El Makkassa Mohamed Azima Nike WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Al Mokawloon Al Arab Emad El Nahhas Mahmoud Abou El Saoud Kelme WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
National Bank of Egypt Khaled Galal Nike National Bank of Egypt
Pyramids Takis Gonias Abdallah El Said Puma Swyp2, TikTok
Smouha Ahmed Samy Ahmed Homos Kelme WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
El Geish Abdel Hamid Bassiouny Mohamed Bassam Kelme WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Wadi Degla Mario Salas Sigma Fit WE, Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair
Zamalek Patrice Carteron Shikabala Puma Oppo, SAIB Bank, Egyptair, Lactel
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
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Number of Matches Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
National Bank of Egypt Eid Maraziq Resigned 15 October 2020[9] Pre-season Mohamed Youssef 19 October 2020[10]
Pyramids Ante Čačić Sacked 1 November 2020[11] Pre-season Rodolfo Arruabarrena
Ismaily Heron Ferreira Sacked 3 Matches 21 December 2020 8th Talaat Youssef 22 December 2020
Ismaily Talaat Youssef Resigned 0 Matches 24 December 2020 8th Saafan El-Sagheer 24 December 2020
Tala'ea El Gaish Tarek El Ashry Resigned 5 Matches 2 January 2021 Abdel Hamid Bassiouny 4 January 2021
Aswan Sami El-Sheshini Sacked 6 Matches 10 January 2021 Alaa Abdelaal 10 January 2021
Ismaily Saafan El-Sagheer Interim January 2021 Dragan Jović 29 January 2021
Wadi Degla Nikodimos Papavasiliou Sacked 21 January 2021 Mario Salas 1 February 2021
Ismaily Dragan Jović Resigned 18 March 2021 Ehab Galal 19 March 2021
Misr Lel Makkasa Ehab Galal Signed by Ismaily 19 March 2021 Mohamed Azima 24 March 2021
Wadi Degla Mario Salas Sacked 27 May 2021 Abdul Baki Jamal 27 May 2021
Misr Lel Makkasa Mohamed Azima Resigned 28 June 2021 Mohamed Abdel-Galil 29 June 2021
Pyramids Rodolfo Arruabarrena Sacked 1 July 2021 Takis Gonias 10 January 2021

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 Palestinan 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.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Under contract Former players
Al Ahly Walter Bwalya Aliou Dieng Junior Ajayi Badr Benoun Ali Maâloul Aliou Badji Geraldo
Aswan Solomon Mensah John Avire Moussa Dao
Jean-Claude Iranzi
Ceramica Cleopatra Kwame Bonsu Winnful Cobbina Fonsinho Maxwell Baakoh Seif Teka
ENPPI Fiston Abdul Razak Tonia Tisdell Himid Mao Ziad Boughettas
El Entag El Harby Mohamed Sanogo Vieira Abdul Wahab Hanan Mamadou Ndioko Niass Badr Mousa
Rafik Kamergi		 Aymen Trabelsi
Moussa Diawara
Ghazl El Mahalla Emmanuel Karbogi Moses Odo
El Gouna Serge Arnaud Aka Allan Kyambadde Joseph Ngwem Mohamed Lahbib Yeken Walter Bwalya
Ismaily Marouane Sahraoui Ary Papel Benson Shilongo Redouane Cherifi Fakhreddine Ben Youssef Piqueti
Humam Tariq
Patrick Kaddu
Ittihad Damion Lowe Emmanuel Okwi Razack Cissé Omar Midani Wilson Akakpo
Mohamed Anis Saltou
Al Masry Saïdou Simporé Austin Amutu Emeka Christian Eze Kazadi Kasengu Mohammed Saleh Muftah Taktak
Cheick Moukoro
Mahmoud Wadi
Misr El Makasa Shimelis Bekele Kevin Muhire Muftah Taktak Paulin Voavy Ahmed Marchuh
Al Mokawloon Al Arab Farouck Kabore Luis Hinestroza Maarouf Youssef
Jacob Njoku
National Bank of Egypt Mohamed Koffi Estrela Maarouf Youssef Moussa Diawara Mohamed Methnani
Pyramids Eric Traoré John Antwi Wilfried Kanon Lumala Abdu Amor Layouni
Mahmoud Wadi		 Ribamar
Hamed Hamdan
Cristian Benavente		 Keno
Azubuike Okechukwu
Smouha Rafik Kabou Eddy Ngoyi Maguette Diop Derrick Nsibambi Mohamed Al Tarhoni
Tala'ea El Gaish Franck Engonga Obame Ibrahim Kone Toni Gomes Talla N'Diaye
Wadi Degla Issahaku Yakubu Jorginho Rodney Antwi Diego Calderón Iheb Mbarki
Zamalek Hamid Ahadad Achraf Bencharki Seifeddine Jaziri Ferjani Sassi Hamza Mathlouthi Mohamed Ounajem

Results

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Zamalek[lower-alpha 1] (C) 34 24 8 2 61 21 +40 80 Qualification for the Champions League
2 Al Ahly[lower-alpha 1] 34 22 10 2 72 29 +43 76
3 Pyramids[lower-alpha 1] 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[lower-alpha 1] 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[lower-alpha 2] 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
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) Champion; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. 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. Ismaily were deducted 3 points.


Results table
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 —
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

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

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

Assists

Top Assists

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

Number of teams by 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

References
  1. @EFA (10 August 2021). "اتحاد الكرة يرسل أسماء الأندية المصرية المشاركة في بطولتي أفريقيا" [EFA sends names of Egyptian clubs participating in the Champions League and Confederation Cup next season to CAF] (Tweet) (in Arabic) – via Twitter.
  2. "Egypt FA suspend all football activities amid COVID-19 concerns". KingFut. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  3. "Bank Al Ahly secure historic promotion to Egyptian Premier League". kingfut.com. 12 October 2020.
  4. "Ghazal El-Mahalla return to Premier League after four years". kingfut.com. 13 October 2020.
  5. "Ceramica Cleopatra promoted to Premier League for first time in their history". kingfut.com. 15 October 2020.
  6. "Tanta relegated from Egyptian Premier League". KingFut. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  7. "FC Masr relegated from Egyptian Premier League". KingFut. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  8. "Zamalek regain second place, send Haras El-Hodoud out of Premier League". Ahram online. 12 October 2020.
  9. "Bank Al Ahly head coach resigns after Premier League promotion". kingfut.com. 15 October 2020.
  10. "Bank Al Ahly appoint Mohamed Youssef as their new head coach". kingfut.com. 19 October 2020.
  11. "Pyramids FC confirm appointment of new head coach". kingfut.com. 1 November 2020.
  12. @EFA (10 August 2021). "اتحاد الكرة يرسل أسماء الأندية المصرية المشاركة في بطولتي أفريقيا" [EFA sends names of Egyptian clubs participating in the Champions League and Confederation Cup next season to CAF] (Tweet) (in Arabic) – via Twitter.
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