CAIRO — The first round of the championship group in the 2025–2026 Egyptian Premier League playoffs has concluded, delivering a series of thrilling results.
Al-Ahly drew 1-1 with Ceramica Cleopatra, Enppi defeated Smouha 2-0, and Zamalek secured a resounding 4-1 victory over Al-Masry. Pyramids FC had a bye in the first round, as per the current competition format.
This season, the first stage saw all 21 teams divided into two groups. The top seven teams advanced to the championship group, where each will play five crucial matches to contest the domestic league title.
The remaining 14 teams entered the relegation stage, battling to avoid the drop.
At the end of the season, the bottom four teams will be relegated, while three new teams will be promoted, setting the league at 20 clubs for next season.
Al-Ahly 1-1 Ceramica
Al-Ahly drew 1-1 with Ceramica Cleopatra in their match on Tuesday evening at the Arab Contractors Stadium, as part of the first round of the Egyptian Premier League’s playoffs.
With five matches remaining, Al-Ahly sits third in the standings with 41 points, while Ceramica Cleopatra remains fourth with 39 points.
Enppi 2-0 Smouha
The match between Smouha and Enppi ended with a 2-0 victory for the petroleum club, Enppi, in their match on Tuesday evening at Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria.
Enppi’s first goal came from an own goal in the 63rd minute. Mahmoud Kahraba then scored his first goal for the petroleum club, and the second of the match, with a spectacular backheel, just two minutes after coming on as a substitute. The goal came with his first touch after entering the game.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Smouha scored a goal to reduce the deficit, but VAR intervened and disallowed it, leaving Enppi with a 2-0 lead due to a foul by a Smouha player prior to the goal.
With this result, Enppi’s points tally rises to 33, placing them fifth, while Smouha remains in seventh place with 31 points.
Zamalek 4-0 Al-Masry
Zamalek achieved a resounding 4-1 victory over Al-Masry at Borg El Arab Stadium.
Osama Zamrawi opened the scoring for Al-Masry in the 12th minute, but Palestinian striker Oday El-Dabbagh equalised for Zamalek in the 30th minute after an assist from Brazilian winger Juan Alvina. Forward Nasser Mansi then put Zamalek ahead in the 44th minute.
Mansi added his second goal of the match in the 75th minute, and defender Hossam Abdel-Maguid completed the scoring in the 87th minute.
This result puts Zamalek at the top of the league table with 46 points, while Al-Masry remains in fifth place with 32 points.
Championship Group standings after round one
1- Zamalek 46 points
2- Pyramids 43 points
3- Al-Ahly 41 points
4- Ceramica 39 points
5- Enppi 33 points
6- Al-Masry 32 points
7- Smouha 31 points
