It’s the biggest club football game in the history of the African continent.
It contains the two most decorated clubs on the continent, the two most popular clubs in Egypt, Africa and the Arab world;
For the first time, two teams from the same country play in the African Champions League final. For the first time - this is also a derby, between two teams from the same city;
And not ‘just’ another derby. It is THE derby. The Cairo derby. Mubarat al-Qima. The derby of the city that is also the centre and beating heart of African football.
Finally, for the first time, the final of the CAF Champions League is played in one game. 90 minutes or 120 or penalty shootouts of the purest rivalry of them all: Zamalek against Al-Ahly.
The History
Al-Ahly was founded in 1907 by a group of idealistic students, as a club that was ‘by Egyptians for Egyptians’. Those students were protesting against the foreign presence and interfere in Egypt by the European countries, France and England. Ahly in a direct translation means ‘my family’, but in a wider sense, means ‘my nation’. Al-Ahly was always the people’s club, who enjoyed the support of the masses - the poor, lower classes, who are the driving force of the city and Egypt.
Zamalek, on the other hand, has a different storyline. Found in 1911, Zamalek was always the club of the elites, of the ex-pats, the diplomats and the bohemian Egyptian classes. For a period in history, the club was called ‘King Farouk’, named after the king of Egypt, who was practically a puppet in the hands of the British Empire.
These two form the greatest anti-thesis to one another, and no one can get away with choosing a side in this battle. In Egypt, nobody asks you whether you like football or not, but are you ‘Al-Ahly wela Zamalek?’
The derby matches throughout the years were known for their passionate, extreme crowd displays, that included great choreographies and pyro. Yet, since 2012, this derby, such as the rest of Egyptian, was held behind closed doors, as a result of the Port Said disaster, where 72 Al-Ahly fans were killed in a match against Al-Masry. This horrible event took place in a post-Arab Spring Egypt, where the country was fuelling against Husni Mubarak, then the president, and both Ultras Ahlawy (of Al-Ahly) and Ultras White Knights (of Zamalek) cooperated in Tahrir Square to bring the latter’s 36 years of reign, down.
But don’t get confused. There will be no cooperation in Cairo on Friday. The CAF Champions League final is a ‘do or die’ for both clubs and set of fans, which we can easily describe as countries, nations, or even religions of football.
Club of the century argument
In the past year, a huge argument erupted about the identity of the ‘African Club of the Century’. While CAF gave Al-Ahly the title, thanks to their continental titles, Zamalek claims that in the 20th century itself they have more titles, which is true. This dispute arrived up to CAF high levels who urged Zamalek to drop the case, as Al-Ahly, on their eighth-time CAF Champions League-winning, are the Club of the Century. But what the streets are saying? Well, this case will be closed after Friday’s big final.
The Matches
History of Champions League meetings: 2005 semifinals - Al-Ahly with a double victory on the way to win to the competition.
2008 Quarterfinals: Al-Ahly won the first leg, with a draw on the second leg.
2012 Group Stage: Part of Al-Ahly’s famous winning with Mohamed Abutrika (draw and victory).
2013 quarterfinals: A 1-1 in the first game and then a hammering 4-0 Ahlawy in the second.
Overall: 238 games - 102 Al-Ahly victories - 58 Zamalek - 78 draws
The Titles
Egyptian championships (from 1948): Al-Ahly 42 Zamalek 12
Egyptian Cups: Al-Ahly 36 Zamalek 27
CAF Champions League: Al-Ahly 8 Zamalek 5
African Confederations Cup: Al-Ahly 1 Zamalek 1
African Super Cup: Al-Ahly 6 Zamalek 4
There are lots of od different titles coming into this count.
Total: Al-Ahly 132 Zamalek 73
The Presidents
Al-Ahly’s Bibo al-Khatib is aa club legend who scored over 100 goals for Al-Ahly, is the top scorer for the club in the African Champions League, played for the club for almost 20 years, and a powerful figure in the African and Egyptian football scenarios.
Zamalek’s Mortada Mansour is one of the most colourful and controversial people in Egyptian and African football, let alone in Egypt as a whole. An ex-member of the Egyptian parliament, an established media businessman and an extravagant character. Since he took over the club in 2014, 27 coaches have passed at the helm. Mortada makes a lot of headlines, and at the moment is suspended for four years after the last brawl in the Abu Dhabi based Egyptian Super cup.
The Coaches
While in Zamalek's Jaime Pacheco the White Knights have an experienced European coach, who already worked in Zamalek five years ago, in Al-Ahly’s Pitso Mosimane there’s a story about a pioneer.
Mosimane won 11 titles in eight years at South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, and he was signed by the Egyptian giants in one mission: to win the much anticipated ninth Champions League title for the club.
His rare signature came as a surprise, while it is not that common to see one of the North African gigantic clubs signing a Sub-Saharian coach, Mosimane is adding to Al-Ahly experience, creativity and in him, Al-Ahly has the best coach in Africa. Not less.
The players
According to several counts, there 28 players who played for both Cairo teams. Hossam Hassan, Ibrahim Hassan, Essam El-Hadary, and from the last generation, Ahmed Hassan, Momen Zakaria and Mahmoud Kahraba.
Both teams have some big names in their roster for tonight’s game.
Al-Ahly has forward Hussein Al-Shahat, Tunisian Ali Mâaloul, Marwan Mohsen, Magday Afsha, Aliou Badji, and others.
Zamalek enjoys Moroccan Achraf Bencahrki, Tunisian Ferjani Sassi, veterans Tarek Hamed and Shikabala, and the next big thing from Egyptian football, Mohammed Mostafa.
A few notable names will miss the great match due to COVID-19 infections: Saleh Gomaa, Mahmoud Kahraba and Walid Soliman (Al-Ahly), and Al-Wensh and Mohammed Hassan (Zamalek)
One of the main urban legends around the derby is that Ahlawys don’t drink milk in derby days against Zamalek, as it is white like their rivals’ shirt.
Cairo is one of the biggest football hubs in the world, an endless ocean of passion for football and football shirts. Today, this city will explode. Without any importance which way the game will develop. Because in Egypt you don’t ask someone whether they like football. You simply ask: “Al-Ahly or Zamalek?”
