Egypt to organise first-ever Super League Cup tournament during AFCON
Egypt is set to organise the first edition of its Super League Cup during the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2021), with 18 topflight teams expected to be sorted in a draw that is being held on Monday.
The teams will be divided into three groups, six teams each, with every team set to play five games in the group stage.
The top teams of each group alongside the first runners-up will qualify for the League Cup’s semifinals.
The teams will be taking part in a domestic tournament without the services of their international players, who will be serving the call of national duty with their national teams in the AFCON 2021.
The group stage games of the new Egyptian League Cup will be played from 12 January until the end of the month, overlapping with the AFCON 2021, which will run from 6 January to 6 February.
The League Cup’s semifinals, however, will be played in the coming international break next June.
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“The tournament will not start on 6 January as previous scheduled in order to allow the participants some time to rest and to accommodate Ahly’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup,” the Competitions’ Committee head Amer Hussein said.
“We wanted to kick off the tournament a few days after the AFCON 2021. The tournament’s games have also been scheduled in a way that prevents overlap with the games of the continental tournament,” he added.
Egyptian Premier League title holders Zamalek have been drawn in Group C alongside Pharco FC, Ceramica Cleopatra, Ghazl El Mahalla, Talae El Gaish and Enppi.
African Champions Ahly have been drawn in Group B alongside Ismaily, Smouha, Arab Contractors, NBE Club and Gouna.
The winner of the Super League Cup title will be awarded EGP 1.5 million, while the runner-up will receive EGP 1 million, and the team in third place will be given EGP 500,000. Furthermore, every team will receive EGP 100,000 simply for participating in the tournament.
The Egyptian Super League Cup will be a new addition to the country’s lineup of domestic tournaments, which includes the Egyptian Premier League, the Egypt Cup, and Egypt Super Cup.