2008-09 Egyptian Premier League
| Season | 2008–09 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Al-Ahly |
| Relegated |
Itesalat Tersana El-Olympi |
| CAF Champions League |
Al-Ahly (1st), Ismaily (2nd) |
| CAF Confederation Cup |
Haras El Hodood (Cup Winner), Petrojet (3rd) |
| Goals scored | 582 |
| Average goals/game | 2.42 |
| Top goalscorer | Ernest Papa Arko (El Geish), Flavio Amado (Al-Ahly) both 12 goals |
| Biggest home win |
Ismaily 5-1 Al-Mokawloon Al-Ahly 4-0 Petrojet Al-Ahly 4-0 Tersana El-Ittihad 4-0 El-Olympi Tersana 4-0 El-Olympi |
| Biggest away win | El Geish 2-6 Petrojet |
| Highest scoring | El Geish 2-6 Petrojet (8 goals) |
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← 2007–08
2009–10 →
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The 2008–09 Egyptian Premier League constituted the fifty-second season of the Egyptian Premier League since its establishment in 1948. The league comprises sixteen teams, with Al-Ahly the defending champions for the fourth year in a row and for the thirty-third time in total. The Egyptian season began on 8 August 2008 and ended on 24 May 2009.
As in any league, certain matches are the highlights of the season. In Egypt, the matches that are anticipated the most are those among the "triangle of power" in Egypt, which consists of Ahly, Zamalek and Ismaily.
- Whether one refers to it as the "Egyptian Derby," the "Cairo Derby" or "Africa's Derby," Al Ahly v. Zamalek is one of the top derbies in the world. It is a match between Africa's most successful clubs, as they have 11 Champions League titles between them, five for Zamalek and six for Al Ahly.
- The Cairo-Ismailia Rivalry is another clash of the titans in Egyptian football, as Cairo-based clubs Ahly and Zamalek have mixed relations with the city of Ismailia, home to the Ismaily Sports Club, the third most decorated side in Egypt. The Zamalek-Ismaily games are usually peaceful as the clubs' boards and fans have had traditionally good relations with each other, unlike the relationship between Ahly and Ismaily fans.
The reason for the hatred between Ahly and Ismaily fans is not clear, but most agree that the main conflict stems back to the 1967 Six Day War. Israeli troops forced the people of Ismailia and most of the people living on the Suez Canal to evacuate and leave their homes, going westwards towards the inside of Egypt. Ismaily SC asked Al Ahly to host them, but the Cairo giants refused. This was a bitter blow to the relationship between both sides, and has always been a touchy point ever since. Also, during Ahly's reconstruction period in 2004, Ahly managed to sign a host of former Ismaily star players including Mohamed Barakat, Islam Al Shater and Emad Al Nahhas.
- Mahmoud "Shikabala" Abd El Razek, the Zamalek play-maker, was given a 6-month ban by FIFA due to irregularities in his transfer to Zamalek from Greek side PAOK on July 23 and fined 990.000Euros. He is expected to make his comeback on 7 November in Zamalek's home match against Al Mokawleen.
- Ahmed Hassan, Egypt's National Team captain, makes his first entrance to the Egyptian Premier League since 1998 with his new club Al Ahly from R.S.C. Andelecht for an undisclosed amount.
- Ghana's golden boy of CAN 2008 "Junior" Agogo was transferred from Nottingham Forest to Zamalek for a reported 800,000 Euros, a record signing an African player in Egypt.
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Wikipedia