No room for error as Al Ahly face Talae El Geish to keep League Cup hopes alive

Al Ahly face a must-win clash against Talae El Geish in the seventh round of the Egyptian League Cup on Thursday, with the Red Eagles needing a victory to keep their knockout stage hopes alive. The match kicks off at 17:00 (Cairo time) at Al Salam Stadium. Launched in the 2021–22 season, the League Cup is held during international breaks and features all 18 top-flight clubs. Modern Sport won the inaugural trophy, while Ceramica Cleopatra have dominated the competition recently, winning the last two editions. The 2025–26 edition features a revamped format with 21 teams divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed finishers, will advance to the quarter-finals. Al Ahly are currently competing in Group A alongside Ceramica Cleopatra, Ghazl El Mahalla, Arab Contractors, Pharco, and Talae El Geish. It has been a turbulent campaign for the Red Eagles. They opened with a 1-0 loss to ENPPI, bounced back against Ceramica Cleopatra, but then suffered consecutive defeats to Ghazl El Mahalla and Arab Contractors. However, they head into Thursday’s fixture with renewed momentum after a convincing 4-1 win over Pharco on Saturday.