Ahly Launches New Season with High Hopes

The renowned Egyptian football club, Ahly, is gearing up to kick off its Egyptian Premier League campaign this Sunday, as they prepare to host Al Sharqiya Enppi at the Cairo International Stadium. Following a rigorous preparatory camp in Spain, which included a high-profile friendly match against FC Barcelona, Ahly is determined to make a strong comeback this season after facing challenges in the previous year. The team concluded the last season with a disappointing third-place finish in the league standings and an early exit from the CAF Champions League during the quarterfinals.

Under the new leadership of Moroccan coach Hussien Ammouta, Ahly has revamped its roster, bringing in seven new players, including Moroccan forward Soufiane Bendjedid and Algerian midfielder Monsef Bekrar. Despite these positive changes, the club will have to face their league opener without key defender Yassin Marie, who is suspended, while several other players, including Achraf Dari and Mahmoud Salah, are uncertain to play due to their absence in the preparatory matches. Notably, midfielder Emam Ashour, despite participating in the camp, will not be part of the squad for the matchup against Al Sharqiya Enppi due to his lack of playtime during the friendlies.

Al Sharqiya Enppi: A New Challenge

On the other side of the pitch, Al Sharqiya Enppi is a newly formed team resulting from the merger of the petroleum club Enppi and public club Al Sharqiya, a decision sanctioned by the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports. Managed by coach Mohamed Barakat, the team has made ten new signings this summer, although they have not made any notable acquisitions. Last season, Enppi finished sixth in the league, securing a place in the Championship Group, and they will be looking to build on that success as they embark on this new chapter.

The structure of this season's league will remain similar to the previous one, with some adjustments. The 20 teams will compete in a single-round first phase, and each team will play 19 matches. The top six teams will advance to the Championship Group, while the remaining 14 will enter the Relegation Group, where four teams will face relegation. As Ahly and Al Sharqiya Enppi prepare to clash, fans are eager to see how the teams will adapt to the new season and what surprises it may hold.

As reported by english.ahram.org.eg.