Egyptian Premier League predictions ahead of the 2013/2014 season, which is set to kick off today.
With the draw done and dusted, KingFut.com writers and Egyptian football experts have gathered to forecast their predictions for the upcoming Egyptian Premier League season.
Adam Moustafa, Ahmed Assem, Karim Abdoun, Karim Fathi, Oluwada Lotfi, Omar Zoheir and Youssef El Hadidy are the panel who will give their thoughts for the upcoming campaign, which is scheduled to start on December 24.
League Champions
Who will win the league? The top two in each group play a round-robin tournament and the format is easy. The team that gets the most points wins the league.
| Adam Mostafa | Al Ahly |
| Ahmed Assem | Al Ahly |
| Karim Abdoun | Al Ahly |
| Karim Fathi | Al Ahly |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Ahly or Zamalek |
| Omar Zoheir | Zamalek |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Al Ahly |
Top Four (Moraba’a El Zahabi)
Comprising of the top two teams from each group.
| Adam Moustafa | Zamalek, Ahly, Ismaily, Smouha |
| Ahmed Assem | Zamalek, Ahly, Ismaily, ENPPI |
| Karim Abdoun | Zamalek, Ahly, Ismaily, ENPPI |
| Karim Fathi | Zamalek, Ahly, Ismaily, ENPPI |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Zamalek, Ahly, Ismaily, ENPPI |
| Omar Zoheir | Zamalek, Ahly, Ismaily, ENPPI |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Zamalek, Ahly, Ismaily, Smouha |
2nd Champions League Spot
The top two in the round-robin tournament qualify for the CAF Champions League, 3rd and 4th qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup.
| Adam Moustafa | Zamalek |
| Ahmed Assem | Zamalek |
| Karim Abdoun | Zamalek |
| Karim Fathi | Zamalek |
| Oluwada Lotfi | * |
| Omar Zoheir | Al Ahly |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Zamalek |
Relegated Sides
This is the tricky part. The bottom three in each group (six teams) play a round-robin tournament and only the top team survives.
Five is a very broad number, that is why our experts had to choose a minimum of three.
| Adam Moustafa | Qanah, Al-Ragaa, Beni Suef Telephones, Menya, El-Dakhleya |
| Ahmed Assem | Ittihad of Alexandria, Menya, Entag El-Harby |
| Karim Abdoun | Menya, Beni Suef Telephones, Qanah |
| Karim Fathi | Menya, Al-Ragaa, Beni Suef Telephones |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Menya, Ittihad of Alexandria, Al-Ragaa |
| Omar Zoheir | Arab Contractors, Entag El-Harby, Ittihad of Alexandria |
| Youssef El Hadidy | El-Dakhleya, Ittihad of Alexandria, Entag El-Harby |
Dark Horses
Who will claim a few scalps? The team that will surprise us the most with their results? The team that could potentially nick the league from Ahly and Zamalek.
| Adam Moustafa | Smouha |
| Ahmed Assem | Al-Ragaa |
| Karim Abdoun | Smouha |
| Karim Fathi | Smouha |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Smouha, Haras-El Hodood, Misr El Maqassa |
| Omar Zoheir | Al Masry |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Al-Ragaa, Menya |
Top Scorer
Who will finish the season as top scorer?
| Adam Moustafa | Hamada Yehia (Smouha) |
| Ahmed Assem | Ernst Papa Arko (Smouha) |
| Karim Abdoun | Ahmed Ali (Zamalek) |
| Karim Fathi | * |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Ahmed Ali (Zamalek) |
| Omar Zoheir | Ernst Papa Arko (Smouha) |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Ahmed Ali (Zamalek) |
Best Signing
Which player who moved in the summer will make the most impact?
| Adam Moustafa | Mohamed Zeka (Ismaily) |
| Ahmed Assem | Mo'men Zakaria (Zamalek) |
| Karim Abdoun | Mo'men Zakaria (Zamalek) |
| Karim Fathi | Ahmed Ali (Zamalek) |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Davis Mwape (Petrojet) |
| Omar Zoheir | Ahmed Ali (Zamalek) |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Ahmed Ali (Zamalek) |
Best Young Player
Who will the be the young player that will catch the eyes this season?
*Anyone under the age of 22.
| Adam Moustafa | Rami Rabia (Al Ahly) |
| Ahmed Assem | Rami Rabia (Al Ahly) |
| Karim Abdoun | Rami Rabia (Al Ahly) |
| Karim Fathi | Mostafa Fathy (Zamalek) |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Mohamed Zeka (Ismaily) or Ahmed Samir (Dakhleya) |
| Omar Zoheir | Rami Rabia (Al Ahly) |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Mahmoud Hassan 'Trezeguet' (Al Ahly) |
Worst Signing
A player who was signed in the summer that will have the least impact.
| Adam Moustafa | Sabri Rahil (Al Ahly) |
| Ahmed Assem | Ahmed Ali (Zamalek) |
| Karim Abdoun | * |
| Karim Fathi | Sabri Rahil (Al Ahly) |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Mo'men Zakaria (Zamalek) |
| Omar Zoheir | Mo'men Zakaria (Zamalek) |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Mo'men Zakaria (Zamalek) |
Best Foreign Player
Which foreign player will catch the eye?
| Adam Moustafa | Maaruf Yusuf (Qanah) |
| Ahmed Assem | Saladin Ahmed (Wadi Degla) |
| Karim Abdoun | Ernst Papa Arko (Smouha) |
| Karim Fathi | Pascal Angan (Ismaily) |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Maaruf Yusuf (Qanah) |
| Omar Zoheir | Ernst Papa Arko (Smouha) |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Dominique da Silva (Al Ahly) |
Best Manager
Lastly, a manager who will lead his side to a notable achievement. A manager that will take the league by storm.
| Adam Moustafa | Mohamed Radwan (Arab Contractors) |
| Ahmed Assem | Mohamed Youssef (Al Ahly) |
| Karim Abdoun | Mohamed Youssef (Al Ahly) |
| Karim Fathi | Mohamed Helmy (ENPPI) |
| Oluwada Lotfi | Hamada Sedki (Smouha) |
| Omar Zoheir | Mohamed Youssef (Al Ahly) |
| Youssef El Hadidy | Mohamed Youssef (Al Ahly) |
NUMBERS
5 of our panel believe Al Ahly will win an unprecedented 37th league title.
5 of our panel also believe that last season’s top four will not change.
All 7 of our panel think the CAF Champions League places will be occupied by the Cairo giants.
5 of our experts think Minyah will go straight back down to Division B, whereas 4 think ‘Zaa’eem el Thaghr’ Ittihad of Alexandria will go down.
4 of our panel think Smouha will be the dark horses, whereas 2 went for the unlikely Al-Ragaa, and only 1 thinks Haras El-Hodood could surprise Zamalek.
3 of our panel believe Ahmed Ali will finish the season as top goalscorer.
3 of our panel also believe that Ahmed Ali will be the best piece of business done.
3 of our experts think Sabri Rahil will be the worst signing of the season.
4 of our panel think Rami Rabia will be the best young player in the 13/14 Egyptian Premier League season.
4 of our panel tip Mohamed Youssef to be the best manager of the 13/14 season.
There are 6 different answers to who will be the Best Foreign Player.
Do you agree with the predictions? Which prediction do you think will almost certainly turn out to be true? Do you agree completely with someone in the panel? Or do you disagree with someone in the panel?
Be sure to leave your comments and predictions below.
