Ahly, Zamalek separated for Egyptian League

Rivals Ahly and Zamalek have been drawn apart for the 2013/2014 Egyptian Premier League which kicks off on Thursday, December 26, 2013.The country’s most successful clubs were separated in the draw conducted by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) on Monday (December 2) in Cairo.Twenty-two (22) clubs will take part in the league, eleven each for Group A and Group B.From the draw; Ahly, Arab Contractors, Al-Rajaa, El-Entag El-Harby, ENPPI, El-Dakhleya, Ghazl El-Mahalla, Gouna, Ittihad Alexandria, Maqassa and Smouha are in Group A; whilst Beni Suef, Canal, El Gaish, El Masry, Haras El-Hodoud, Ismaily, Ittihad El-Shorta, Menya, Petrojet, Wadi Degla and Zamalek.

After the round-robin of matches, the winner and runner-up from each group advances to the semi-final, with the eventual winners progressing to the final.According to the EFA, five clubs will be relegated with three moving up from the second-tier.The Egyptian League has been abandoned twice, since February 2012 when scores of fans lost their lives during a league match between Ahly and El Masry in Port Said.