Enppi spirting director anticipate a draw or defeat against Al Ahly

Enppi sporting director Mohamed Ismail has set a cautious tone ahead of his team’s Egyptian Premier League showdown with Al Ahly, predicting a closely fought encounter when both sides meet at Cairo International Stadium.

The fixture, scheduled for Tuesday at 8 pm in the championship group stage, sees ENPPI SC take on league heavyweights Al Ahly SC in a match that could influence the closing stretch of the season.

Ismail admitted that expectations are modest, suggesting his side could either grind out a draw or narrowly lose. “I expect either a 0–0 draw or a 1–0 defeat against Al Ahly,” he said, highlighting the challenge posed by the reigning giants.

He added that squad selection decisions, including the involvement of key players such as Kahraba, remain with the technical staff, while anticipating that Al Ahly will rely on their strongest available lineup.

Despite the tough outlook, Ismail was keen to underline Enppi’s growing reputation. He described the club as a “dark horse” in the league, insisting that his players operate without pressure and are focused on development and exposure rather than results alone.

“Our goal is to create players and help them move on to bigger clubs like Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramids,” he explained, referencing Zamalek SC and Pyramids FC as part of the natural career pathway for emerging talent.

He also pointed to Enppi’s history of player development and sales abroad as evidence of the club’s long-term strategy, noting that the focus is on both domestic growth and international opportunities.

On relations with Al Ahly, Ismail dismissed speculation of tension, stressing that cooperation between the clubs remains strong despite social media chatter.

As the match approaches, Enppi will aim to frustrate their more illustrious opponents once again, while Al Ahly continue their push in the title race.