Aliou Dieng defends Egyptian league after Valencia move, points to Pharaohs’ World Cup heroics

New Valencia midfielder Aliou Dieng has dismissed claims that the Egyptian Premier League lacks quality, insisting the performances of Egypt’s national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup highlighted the strength of the country’s domestic competition.

The Mali international, who recently completed his move from Al Ahly to the Spanish club, signed a contract until 2028, with an option to extend for a further year after securing a long-awaited move to La Liga.

Dieng spent several successful seasons with Al Ahly, where he established himself as one of the club’s key midfielders, winning multiple domestic and continental titles while earning a reputation as one of Africa’s finest defensive midfielders.

Speaking in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, the 28-year-old rejected suggestions that playing in Egypt’s top flight was a disadvantage, pointing to the quality displayed by the Pharaohs during their World Cup campaign.

“The Egyptian league is unknown? This is just a widespread idea, nothing more,” Dieng said.

“We all saw the Egyptian national team play yesterday in the World Cup and we saw the quality the players possess, most of whom come from this league. I will not comment further on that. The important thing is to show what I can offer Valencia in the future.”

Dieng’s remarks come amid renewed debate over the competitiveness of the Egyptian Premier League following Egypt’s impressive performances on football’s biggest stage. Despite their exit in the round of 16, the Pharaohs won widespread praise for their displays against some of the world’s strongest teams, with many observers highlighting the contribution of players developed in the domestic league.

The midfielder argued that Egypt’s World Cup campaign should help change perceptions about the country’s top-flight competition, which has often been overlooked compared to Europe’s major leagues despite consistently producing players capable of competing at the highest level.

Egypt enjoyed an impressive World Cup campaign before bowing out in the round of 16 following a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Argentina after surrendering a two-goal lead. The Pharaohs had stunned the former world champions by racing into a 2-0 advantage before Argentina mounted a second-half comeback to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Although Egypt’s World Cup journey ended in heartbreak, the team’s performances earned widespread admiration, with several players receiving praise for their displays throughout the tournament. Dieng believes that recognition also reflects the quality of the Egyptian Premier League, where many members of the national team have developed and continue to play.