Egyptian league draw: early clash between Al-Ahly and Zamalek

Al Ahly, meanwhile, open their campaign against El Sharqia Enppi in the first round on 23 August, then face ZED FC in the second round on 28 August.

The Red side then take on Smouha in the third round on 1 September, El Mokawloon El Arab in the fourth on 9 September and Abu Qir for Fertilizers in the fifth on 15 September, before a sixth-round meeting with Zamalek.

A clash with Pyramids follows in the ninth round on 23 November.

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Pyramids begin their campaign against Ghazl El Mahalla. Abou Qir Fertilizers and Al Masry follow in the second and third rounds, before El Gouna arrive in the fourth and Ceramica Cleopatra in the sixth.

This season's competition opens with a league phase between all participating clubs. The teams then split into two groups. Six clubs fight it out for the title in the first, while 14 scrap for survival in the second, with four dropping down to the Professional League.

Organisers have pencilled in a pause from 20 September to fit around the international break.

On the money, Ahmed Diab, president of the Egyptian Football Association of Clubs, revealed that the title reward has jumped to 50 million pounds from next season, up from just 5 million. That's a tenfold rise. Diab added that the league had boosted its television broadcasting revenues by 300%.

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