Al Ahly International U-16 Cup: Group stage heats up on day one

Al Ahly’s U-16 team kicked off their campaign at the inaugural Al Ahly International Tournament with a 2-1 victory over the UAE-based Barcelona Academy.

However, they were defeated 2-1 by Ruch Lviv in their second match before finishing Day 1 with a 1-0 win over Ceramica Cleopatra at the club’s Nasr City grounds on Friday.

In other Group A action, Bayer 04 Leverkusen were held to a goalless draw by Escola Varsavia, while Ruch Lviv triumphed 2-1 over Ceramica Cleopatra, and Barcelona UAE edged Escola Varsavia 1-0 in the final match of the day.

At the end of Day 1, Al Ahly and Ruch Lviv sit joint-top of Group A with six points each, while Escola Varsavia are third in the standings.

In Group B, ES Tunis opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns FC of South Africa before suffering a 1-0 defeat to K Beerschot VA. They bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Mészöly Academy Budapest.

Juventus started strongly with a 3-1 win over Budapest and a 3-2 victory over Right To Dream Academy but were defeated 4-2 by Mamelodi Sundowns in their final match of the day.

ES Tunis lead Group B on goal difference over Juventus, with both teams on six points.

Group C saw Estonian Talent Project defeat Kazakhstan FA 2-1, then draw 1-1 with ZED FC, while Sporting CP were held to a 1-1 draw against Kazakhstan FA.

Estonian Talent Project top Group C with four points, ahead of Sporting CP, ZED FC, and Kazakhstan FA, who all have two points each after Day 1 action.

The tournament, hosted at Al Ahly's Nasr City branch, runs from November 28 to 30, 2025, and features youth teams from top clubs worldwide.

Organised in cooperation with Al Ahly Football Company and Live Adventure, the event sees 18 teams divided into three groups of six.

Each side play five round-robin matches, with the top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, advancing to the quarterfinals.

The knockout round will determine the semifinalists, followed by the final and a third-place playoff.

All matches are played on full-size natural grass pitches, with each game consisting of two 20-minute halves.

First Day Results:

Group A

Ceramica cleopatra (Egypt) 1-0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Germany)
Barcelona Academy UAE 1-2 Al Ahly (Egypt)
Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) 0-0 Escola Varsavia (Poland)
Ceramica Cleopatra (Egypt) 1-2 Ruch Lviv (Ukraine)
Al Ahly (Egypt) 1-2 Ruch Lviv (Ukraine)
Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Barcelona Academy UAE
Escola Varsavia (Poland) 1-0 Ruch Lviv (Ukraine)
Al Ahly (Egypt) 1-0 Ceramica Cleopatra (Egypt)
Barcelona Academy UAE 1-0 Escola Varsavia (Poland)

Group B

Meszoly Academy Budapest (Hungary) 1-3 Juventus (Italy)
Juventus (Italy) 3-2 Right To Dream Academy
K Beerschot VA (Belgium) 0-0 Meszoly Academy Budapest (Hungary)
Esperance (Tunisia) 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa)
K Beerschot VA (Belgium) 1-0 Esperance (Tunisia)
Right To Dream Academy 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa)
Juventus (Italy) 2-4 Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa)
Right To Dream Academy 3-2 K Beerschot VA (Belgium)
Meszoly Academy Budapest (Hungary) 1-3 Esperance (Tunisia)

Group C

Estonian Talent Project 2-1 Kazakhstan FA
ZED FC (Egypt) 2-1 Donatello Calcio Udine (Italy)
Sporting CP (Portugal) 1-1 Kazakhstan FA
Donatello Calcio Udine (Italy) 1-2 Kazakhstan FA
Estonian Talent Project 1-1 ZED FC (Egypt)
Sporting CP (Portugal) 2-0 Donatello Calcio Udine (Italy)
ZED FC (Egypt) 1-1 Sporting CP (Portugal)