Preseason action thaws winter cold in Egypt
The American football preseason has just been concluded in Egypt with outstanding performances from all the teams and close scores in most games, promising a very exciting football season.
The 2017/2018 American football season in Egypt is set to be the biggest yet, with eight men’s and eight women’s flag teams participating this season, up from five and three respectively last season.
The Egyptian National Football League (ENFL) 2016/2017 ended with the GUC Eagles defeating the MSA Tigers in the Egyptian Bowl to win their third straight championship while not losing a single game in that time span.
The Eagles continued their dominance in both their preseason games defeating the Wolves 14-0 and then the Tigers 18-12.
The Tigers had no trouble beating the AUC Titans (36-8) who have come back to the American football scene this season, after missing the previous season. The Titans did manage one win in the preseason against the newcomers, the Cairo Warriors (14-8).
The Hell Hounds also won both their preseason games against the Wolves (38-14) and the newest team in the ENFL, the Gezira Thunder (54-0), maintaining their reputation as one of the strongest teams in the Egyptian league and promising a very strong performance this season. The Bears had a great preseason as well. Even though they had no wins last season, they are the third team, along with the Eagles and Hounds, who managed two wins in their preseason games against the Thunder (42-0) and Warriors (24-6).
The Tigers had beat the Cairo Wolves in the playoffs, both teams having put up a great performance throughout the season. The Cairo Hell Hounds managed one win during the season and Cairo Bears didn’t have any wins. Both teams seem to have regrouped for the new season, showing up to the preseason with a very strong roster and interesting new formations and plays.
Each of the men teams has formed a women team; which adds five new teams to the Egyptian Flag Football League (EFFL) this season in addition to last season’s teams: The Cairo Wolves, GUC Eagles and Cairo Warriors
The Wolves, champions of the first flag football league in Egypt, the Middle East and North Africa, lived up to their reputation by winning both preseason games against the Eagles (13-6) and Hounds (20-7).
Last season’s runners-up, the Warriors, also won both their games against the Bears (38-6) and Titans (32-22). while the Eagles won one game against the Tigers (31-0).
The new women teams are catching up quickly, especially the Titans, who have made a powerful debut against the Tigers in the first game ever for both teams, which the Titans won (55-26). The Hounds also won one game against the Thunder (31-19). The Thunder managed one win as well against the Bears (37-20). Neither the Tigers nor the Bears was able to secure any wins in their preseason games.
The teams have two months to rest and get ready for the ENFL regular season which starts on Friday, February 16th and the EFFL which starts on Saturday, February 17th. With more teams signing professional foreign players and coaches to support their excellent Egyptian squads, the 2017/2018 American football season in Egypt is definitely one to look forward to.
