Inside the biggest derby in Africa from Egypt

• The biggest derby in Africa isn’t something you would forget
• And Egypt’s Al Ahly and Zamalek remain Africa’s biggest derby
• The two clubs have always clashed since the 1970s as they represent a sharp division in idealism and nationalism dating back to the pre-colonial era

The biggest derby in Africa isn’t something you would forget, not for anything in the world. There is nothing quite like a local or intercity rivalry football derby because they both bring out the best in fans.

A lovely and necessary part of football is rivalry, which brings with it the thrill of seeing a rival team lose to its opposite number.

There are few games as highly anticipated and televised as local derbies, mostly because the clubs’ and fans’ reputations are on the line.

In this article, we take a look at the biggest derby in Africa.

WHICH IS THE BIGGEST DERBY IN AFRICA?

Biggest derby in Africa, Cairo Derby. Photo/Daily Advent

CAIRO DERBY

The Cairo derby is one of the most exciting in the world of football, and some believe it to be the biggest derby in Africa. It indeed is!

For their great success in continental play, the Caf has recognised Al Ahly and city rival Zamalek as the best clubs of the twentieth century. Al Ahly and Zamalek are both perhaps Africa’s largest football clubs.

Historically, games between the two titans have been marred by fan violence to the point where they had to be played behind closed doors even before the current coronavirus pandemic.

WHO IS BETTER AHLY VS ZAMALEK?

CAF designated Ahly and Zamalek the first and second African clubs of the twentieth century. This is a distinction shared by both clubs that make up the biggest derby in Africa.

It is a highlight of the football season for most countries in the Middle East and North Africa to watch these two teams play each other live. They are both based in Greater Cairo.

There are usually two games in the Egyptian Premier League each season, although it is not uncommon to see them face off in Egypt Cup finals and the CAF Champions League.

The Egypt Cup finals and CAF make up Africa’s most prominent club competition. The Ahly-Zamalek derby has been raging for more than a century.

It often resulted in countless deaths and injuries as well as the cancellation of the entire league on at least one occasion in the early 1970s. The violence made the Egyptian authorities ban derby games at each club’s home venue.

To ensure impartiality, international authorities are flown into Egypt to assure the deference and division of Egypt’s referees.

But it’s far more than just pride and geography that irritates each set of supporters. It’s all about nationalism, class, and escaping the reality of life.

The roots of the rivalry traces back to when the British soldiers strolled the streets of Cairo. Football was widely considered Britain’s only popular cultural import.

But it wasn’t until 1907 that Egypt’s first locally controlled club, Al Ahly. The club wore old red colours of the pre-colonial flag.

They were seen as a team for the nation, a bulwark against the occupation, and an opportunity for the average man on the street to come together for a common nationalistic cause, as well as a symbol of national pride.

With their white uniforms, Zamalek was seen as the alien and outsider squad. It was King Farouk’s club. After his abdication, the squad was renamed Zamalek in his honour.

Britons and their sympathisers, as well as a group of intellectuals and writers who were uncomfortable with Egypt’s increasing nationalistic confidence, were drawn to the team’s conventional lineup.

In the red corner, you had the faithful, the impoverished and the arrogant. Then there was the liberal, bourgeois middle class in the white corner.

Cairo Derby between Zamalek and Al Ahly. Photo/Sports Al Adente

HOW MANY TIMES DID ZAMALEK BEAT AHLY?

With Al Ahly SC, Zamalek has drawn more games than any other team. Zamalek lost Al Ahly 38 times, the most of any other club.

On the other hand, El Ittihad, with 110 games, is Zamalek’s most frequent opponent in Egypt’s Premier League. El-Zamalek has 68 victories in league games against El Itthad.

HOW MANY TROPHIES HAS ZAMALEK WON?

It is one of Africa’s most successful clubs, having won five CAF Champions League titles. Besides being the biggest derby in Africa, it won one CAF Confederation Cup win, four CAF Super Cup titles, and one African Cup Winners Cup title.