Al Ahly vs. Zamalek - Cairo Derby

 This derby is of course much lesser known, like most derby's would be situated outside of Europe however, I felt it was important to cover as many continents as I could to highlight some of the best rivalries that are less likely for the average person to have heard of. I picked Al Ahly vs Zamalek as its by far the most intense and historic in African football. Both clubs are based in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, and have long history dating back to the early 20th century. This rivalry transcends football, reflecting deep cultural and regional divides within Egypt. Al Ahly is often seen as the club for the working class, with typical working class neighbourhoods being hot spots for supporters, whilst Zamalek is associated with the more affluent areas of Cairo and Egypt. The rivalry sometimes take on political symbolism during times of political unrest in Egypt. Supporters often align themselves with particular political movements, drawing on political symbols and slogans in their displays of support. For example during the Arab spring and political tensions in Egypt, fans from each club, mainly fronted by each others clubs 'ultras' groups, were known to participate in protests and clash.

Both clubs have been highly successful in competing for domestic titles such as the league, the Egypt cup as well as the CAF champions league, the African equivalent of the UEFA Champions League. upon reading, it is clear Al Ahly are the more successful team winning their league an impressive 43 times with Zamalek winning only 14 in their history. Again across Africa, Al Ahly have won the most champions league titles with 11 and Zamalek have won 5, the second most. Although it is clear Al Ahly are the more successful club, the two are by far the most successful in all of Africa making it an intriguing derby

For the next blog we will be moving continent again to Argentina in South America...





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Red Star Belgrade vs Partizan Belgrade - 'The Eternal Derby'

Image
 This derby between the two greats of Serbian football is fierce, intense and rich in history. The rivalry between Red Star Belgrade and FC Partizan dates back to the early 20th century, rooted in their foundation and affiliations with military factions during the Second World War. Like most of the worlds Derbys, this derby reflects deep cultural and political divides. Red star is associated with Serbian nationalism, whilst Partizan represents a more diverse Yugoslav identity. Red star represents a more traditional, Serbian identity, placing significance on typical Serbian culture and heritage, FC Partizan however, historically has been more inclusive, representing a diverse Yugoslav identity, meaning emphasis on unity amongst various ethnic groups in the former Yugoslavia. With the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the rivalry took on a new dimensions as the war that followed, the sides interlined with the values of those fans of either club just feeling the hatred for one anoth...
Read more

Hamburger SV vs FC St. Pauli - Hamburg Derby

Image
 This rivalry is one of the biggest in Germany despite both historic teams being situated in Germany's second division. The derby between Hamburger SV or HSV vs FC St. Pauli is rooted in the city Hamburg with HSV being one of the city's and countries oldest and most established clubs, while FC St. Pauli is more known for its alternative and rebellious identify. HSV is associated with tradition, professionalism and a larger fan base, historically represents the more affluent parts of the city. St. Pauli, on the other hand, is known for its countercultural and left wing values, with their supporters, lead by their 'ultras' group adopting the 'Antifa' image representing a strong opposition to fascism. The rivalry has only in recent years become much more prominent as typically HSV have always played in the top tier of German football, having been the only side to have never been relegated from the German 1st division until their eventual relegation in 2017.  Furthe...
Read more

Fenerbahçe vs. Galatasaray - Derby of Istanbul

Image
 This derby, often also called the "Intercontinental derby' is one of the most heated and historic in Turkish and in European football. The derby dates back to when the clubs were founded with Fenerbache being established in 1907, and Galatasaray in 1905. Similar to my previous blog post, this rivalry goes beyond sport, reflecting cultural and societal divisions in Turkish society. Fenerbache as a club and its supporters, more interline with the Asian side of Istanbul and represent a more traditional, local identity, whilst Galatasaray are more interlined with the European size having an outlook of westernisation. How each club identities resonate with differing views in Turkey's national identity are further impacted by government and political influence. Turkish governments have historically sought to harness the passion of each set of clubs supporters for political purposes such as attempting to use football as a means of promoting certain ideologies and agendas which n...
Read more