Egyptian Third Division

The Egyptian Third Division (Arabic: دوري القسم الثالث المصري) is an Egyptian semi-professional football league that represented the third tier of the Egyptian football league system until 2023. It is administered by the Egyptian Football Association. It is below the Egyptian Second Division, and above the regional league Egyptian Fourth Division; the lowest football league in the country.

Egyptian Third Division
Organising bodyEgyptian Football Association
Founded1977[citation needed]
First season1977–78
CountryEgypt
Number of teams142 (2022–23)
Level on pyramid4
Promotion toEgyptian Second Division B
Relegation toEgyptian Fourth Division
Domestic cup(s)Egypt Cup
International cup(s)CAF Confederation Cup
(via winning Egypt Cup)
Current: 2022–23 Egyptian Third Division

The league was reformed in 1977, and consists of multiple groups covering different parts of Egypt, with the winner of each group either gaining automatic promotion to the next level, or earning a place in the promotion play-offs, depending on the number of groups and teams participating.

Following the creation of the Second Division A and Second Division B, the Third Division will be downgraded to level 4 on the pyramid starting from the 2023–24 season.[1]

League format

edit

The number of participating teams differs from a season to another, but the format is always the same. Teams are divided into multiple groups, usually from 12 to 14, with each group containing a different number of clubs, according to their geographical location. Teams finishing first in each group either gain automatic promotion, or enter a promotion play-off phase, to determine the promoted teams to the next level; while the lowest or the two lowest-ranked teams in each group relegate to the Egyptian Fourth Division.

For the 2022–23 season, a total of 142 teams participated in the competition, divided into 13 groups, with the first team from all groups (except H2) qualifying for the promotion play-offs

Like other divisions in Egypt, it will take place annually, beginning in September or October, and ending in June of the following year. Teams play each other twice, home and away. All teams are eligible to participate in the Egypt Cup, in case they pay the entrance fee.

Participating teams

edit
Club Home City First season
of
current spell
Al Badari SC El Badari 2009–10
Quos FC Qus
Beni Suef SC Beni Suef
Desouk SC Desouk
Mnouf FC Menouf
Misr Insurance FC Cairo
Ghazl El Suez FC Suez
Talkha Electricity FC Talkha
El Henawy FC
Damietta SC Damietta
Madina Monowara Luxor 2010–11
Wadi El Gedid FC New Valley Governorate
Shouban Qenah Qena
Al-Sekka Al-Hadid Cairo
Gomhoriat Shebin SC Shibin El Kom
Banha FC Banha
Senbellawein FC El Senbellawein
Al Zarka SC El Zarqa
Kafr El Sheikh SC Kafr El-Sheikh
Wadi El Gedid FC New Valley Governorate
El Marg SC Cairo 2012–13
This list is not inclusive. Please expand it if you can.

Groups Season 2018–19

edit
Group 1 – Aswan Group 2 – Sohag Group 3 – Asyut Group 4 – Fayoum Group 5 – Giza
KIMA Aswan Qena (Qena) Petrol Asyut MS Maghagha (El Minya) Al Seid
Wadi El Nile Shouban Qena (Qena) Al Badari Al Wasta (Beni Suef) Goldi
Al Hilal Aswan Qeft (Qena) Abo Teej MS Bebba (Beni Suef) MS Abo Al Namras
Al Gomhouria Club Draw MS Al Minaa (Red Sea) Manflot MS Nasser Beni Suef (Beni Suef) Al Ayat
Abo Al Reesh El Maragha Asyut Young Muslims Abo Kassah MS Al Saff
MS Edfu Akhmim Asyut Cement Matar Tares Genius
Luxor (Luxor) El Maragha Young Muslims Al Quseyya MS Nasser Fayoum El Sharqya Lel Dokhan
Al Madina Al Monawara (Luxor) Mecca Nasser El Fekreia (El Minya) MS Tameia MS Kerdasa
Al Salam Esna (Luxor) Ahli Al Monshaa Mallawi (El Minya) MS Sanorres 6 October
Esna Young Muslims (Luxor) Gerga MS Smalut (El Minya) MS Ibsheway Ahli Bank
MS Al Rdwanya (Luxor) MS El Belina Beni Mazar (El Minya) MS Etssa Maadi Sports and Yacht Club (Cairo)
Quos (Qena) MS Naga Mazen MS Al Qess (El Minya) Ghareb Employees (Red Sea) Planes (Cairo)
MS El Khargah (New Valley) General Helwan (Cairo)
Group 6 – Cairo Group 7 – Ismailia Group 8 – Gharbia Group 9 – North Sinai Group 10 – Port Said
Ittihad El Shorta Kahrabaa Ismailia Benha (Qalyubia) Nejmet Sinai Port Fouad
Telecom Egypt Baladeyet Ismailia Shabab Tokh (Qalyubia) Nasr El Arish Al Rebat & Al Anwar
El Sekka El Hadid Manshiyat El Shohada MS Batta (Qalyubia) MS Rabea Al Fanar
El Marg West Qantara Sirs Al Layyanah (Monufia) MS EL Kherba Ghazl Damietta (Damietta)
Almaza MS Abo Suweir Arab Al Raml (Monufia) Ittihad North Sinai MS Faraskur (Damietta)
Egypt Petrol MS Abo Shehata Meet Khakan (Monufia) 6 October Arish MS Mit El Khouly (Damietta)
El Ghaba Ghazl Suez (Suez) Ghazel Shebin Al Kom (Monufia) Sherbeen (Dakahlia)
Misr Insurance El Nobba (Suez) Nogoom Saddat (Monufia) El Matareya (Dakahlia)
Essco South Sinai (South Sinai) Maleyat Kafr El Zayat Ittihad Al Manzalah (Dakahlia)
Al Qawmy El Sharkia (Sharqia) Othmanon Belkas (Dakahlia)
Manshiyat Nasser Faqous (Sharqia) MS Zefta Beni Ebeid (Dakahlia)
El Obour (Qalyubia) Bilbeis (Sharqia) Sporting Castle Dekrnes (Dakahlia)
El Belastik (Qalyubia) MS Abo Hammad (Sharqia) Samanoud Dakahlia Water (Dakahlia)
Bahttim (Qalyubia) Seid Al Mahala
Group 11 – Dakahlia Group 12 – Kafr El Sheikh Group 13 – Alexandria Group 14 – Matrouh
Ittihad Nabarouh El Hamool Alexandria Sporting Club El Tregi
Ettihad El Snblawen Biyala El Terram Shabab El Dabaa
Shoban Bedwai Baltim Alexandria Petroleum El Horreya
Kahraba Talkha El Zafaran Nahdet El Amereya Matrouh
Shiko Sakha Montaza MS El Hammam
Mansoura Employees Metoubes MS Obour Al Masry Matrouh
Mega Sport Basyoun MS El Qabary Al Shorta
El Snblawen MS Qallin MS Maamoura Hilal El Dabaa
MS El Snblawen MS El Hanafy Badr (Beheira)
MS Al Amir Ittihad Basyoun (Gharbia) Rasheed (Beheira)
MS Samanoud MS Kom Hamada (Beheira) Ghazl Kafr El Dawwar (Beheira)
Abo Kbeer (Sharqia) MS Kafr Bulin (Beheira) Beheira Water (Beheira)
MS Nejm (Sharqia) MS Itay Al Baroud (Beheira) MS Rasheed (Beheira)
MS Hosh Issa (Beheira)

References

edit
  1. ^ "EFA announce major changes to Second Division & Third Division Leagues". KingFut. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.