The Egyptian Premier League and its New Format

The new format introduced into the 2024-25 Season of the Egyptian Premier League (EPL), also known as the Nile League, has made the competition “very tough this year”. This observation was made by the Pyramids FC head coach Krunoslav Jurčić, who however expressed optimism that the title race will be decided between Pyramids and Al Ahly. The ongoing season kicked off on October 30, 2024, and runs until June 6, 2025.

The Egyptian Professional Clubs Association had, in a bid to entrench competitiveness and mitigate scheduling challenges, adopted a new format fashioned after the Belgian Pro League. This two-phase system which is a departure from the traditional structure reduces the total number of matches from 34 to 25 per team, ensuring a well-paced and timely season.

While explaining the new development, President of the Egyptian Pro League, Ahmed Diab said, “The competition will be divided into two stages. The first will be from one round and the top-ranked clubs {in the first half of the table} will qualify for the next stage to compete for the title with the same points of the first stage.

“The remaining clubs {in the second half of the table} will compete in the second stage also with the same points but only to set the relegated teams and also the other rankings of the table.” Sportblot observes that this division into championship and relegation groups ensures that teams have a clear objective and strategy throughout the season, maintaining high stakes and competitive integrity.

What Necessitated the New Format

Credit: Kingfut

Historically, the EPL comprises 18 teams competing in a double-round robin format, where each team played 34 matches - 17 home and 17 away. This structure often led to scheduling conflicts and inconsistent end dates of the seasons, primarily due to unforeseen delays and postponed fixtures.

For instance, the 2023-2024 Egyptian Premier League season ended in August despite starting in September of 2023, making it the longest-ever domestic football season in the country’s history. This led African and Egyptian champions Al Ahly to quit the Egypt Cup to be able to rest their squad ahead of the new season.

With Al Ahly set to participate in the newly introduced 2025 Club World Cup, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has resolved to avoid a similar scheduling conflict. As a result, it is poised to ensure that the current season concludes before June 2025.

Apart from these scheduling challenges, it is also in a bid to align the league's calendar with international standards that a revamp was deemed necessary by the Egyptian Professional Clubs Association.

Under this arrangement, the first phase will feature a traditional round-robin where all teams play each other. In the second phase of the competition, the top nine teams will compete to determine the league champion, while the bottom nine teams will face off in a separate league to avoid relegation. Both groups will play a single round-robin format.

This new format notably reduces the number of relegation places from three to two, shortening the season from 34 to 25 weeks and concluding on June 6, 2025.

Upsides and Risks of the Nile League New Format

Credit: Ahram

While the introduction of the new format for the Egyptian Premier League has been hailed for saving two months from the ordinary schedule and reducing the risk of player fatigue, several club officials have already rejected the idea, calling for a different approach to organising the league to prevent delays in its conclusion.

Ehab El-Koumi, a member of the Egyptian Football Association, revealed that several clubs, including Ittihad of Alexandria, Gouna, Enppi, Petrojet, Pharco FC, and Smouha, opposed the new format.

"I am against the new format as it may impact us technically. Teams participating in continental competitions benefit financially, while others are disadvantaged," remarked Smouha coach Ahmed Sami during a television appearance last July.

In contrast, representatives from Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramids FC have endorsed the new format, viewing it as a means to conclude the league promptly and provide players with necessary rest.

Conclusion

The introduction of the new format for the Egyptian Premier League marks a pivotal moment in the footballing history of one of Africa’s powerhouses in the sport. The 2024–2025 season serves as a trial for this new format. Feedback from all stakeholders will be meticulously gathered to assess the efficacy of the structure. Adjustments and refinements may be made based on this feedback, ensuring that the league continues to evolve in line with the needs of Egyptian football.

With the new format in place, the 2024–25 Egyptian Premier League season is already shaping up to be one of the most memorable in recent years. Football fans can look forward to a more streamlined season, with critical matches concentrated in the latter half, maintaining engagement and excitement throughout the year. Whether it’s the race for the title or the fight to avoid relegation, every match counts.