Egypt’s Footballing Kings
Fierce rivalries, AFCON prospects, World Cup dreams and marvellous Mo Salah - Egyptian football is riding a wave right now. But it wasn’t always this way.
Egypt has never been known for its football.
The North African country has unfortunately gathered a reputation in the West for being the epitome of oppression, conflict and violence. Whilst the instability of the country has been heavily reported in the global news cycle, its enduring love for football has remained a secret foundation of unity for Egyptians. In support of their clubs and the national team, fans have recently enjoyed a great degree of success: from the unprecedented AFCON treble in the late 2000’s to the success of Al-Ahly in the CAF Champions League and the Club World Cup in 2020 and 2021 respectively. These are significant triumphs that sandwich the emergence of Egyptian born global superstars, such as Mohammed Elneny, Ahmed Hegazi and most importantly, Mohammed Salah. Egypt’s struggle for political harmony and its unwavering love for the beautiful game has proved to be a fascinating culture clash; more often than not the two intertwine with extreme consequences. So, what is the meaning of football to the Egyptian people?
“As with all derbies though, the biggest Egyptian rivalry is naturally rooted in historical, political, and social differences. Al-Ahly were traditionally formed as a team for the Egyptian workers, whereas Zamalek have colonial ties and foreign roots.”
The weaving together of football and politics is not a new phenomenon and examples of political influence on the game can be found in every part of the world. But for Egypt, divisions and social disorder is nothing but crucial juxtaposition in its love of football, whether in the name of unison or aggression. The events of the 2011 revolution shook Egypt to its core; the toppling of then-President Hosni Mubarak united (momentarily, at least) fierce rivals in the hope of a different future. Whilst the revolution became the talking point across the globe and football took a backseat, the instability of the political scene soon became the backdrop to a national footballing disaster.
In February 2012, what should have been a regular match between Al Masry and Al-Ahly SC ended in tragedy. Known today as the ‘Port Said disaster’, it was clear that trouble was imminent from the start. The invasion of the pitch by Masry supporters both before and during the game was an unfortunate sign of things to come and by the end, a full-blown melee had occurred on the pitch, with fans armed with stones and knives attacking Al-Ahly players and coach Manuel José. The violence was vast and unrestrained, resulting in a stadium stampede that caused the tragic deaths of 74 people - over 500 more were injured. The blame was placed firmly on Al-Ahly ultras, known as 'Ultras Ahlawy'. The group was subsequently banned by authorities, with eleven former members being sentenced to death for taking part in the violence.
This dark day was a watershed moment for Egyptian football. The events began a serious discussion regarding security in the country and the extent of political influence in all walks of life. A major criticism of Mubarak’s control concerned the authoritarian nature of the regime, and seemingly nothing had changed a year later. Eyewitnesses during the disaster claimed that police did little to control the crowds and refused to open gates to allow the crowds to disperse safely. The lack of security appeared more than simple police incompetence; there were serious suggestions in some quarters that police and security forces purposely did little to stop the violence, as a form of indirect retaliation to the anti-government voice of the Al-Ahly ultras during the 2011 revolution. The rawness of this new chapter in Egyptian history made the events even more painful. Fans across the nation grieved the loss of fellow supporters and football temporarily stopped being a unifying factor as the domestic league was cancelled for the rest of the 2011/12 season.
It would be unfair to portray Egyptian football as a political battlefield. As with all derbies though, the biggest Egyptian rivalry is naturally rooted in historical, political, and social differences. Al-Ahly and Zamalek are by far the most successful clubs in the Egyptian Premier League and their loyalties divide the country. Al-Ahly were traditionally formed as a team for the Egyptian workers, whereas Zamalek have colonial ties and foreign roots. This form of socio-political rivalry is not unique: teams such as River Plate and Boca Juniors, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, Celtic and Rangers are all well known for their heated divisions, but the equivalent in Egypt is barely etched in football folklore. The lack of international recognition for the Cairo derby does not diminish its importance to the supporters themselves. The game is often a crucial factor in determining the title for the season and the intensity often reaches the point where a foreign referee officiating the game is now commonplace in the fixture. Often a competitive but peaceful affair, the fixture is a perfect example of the unadulterated passion demonstrated by Egyptians for the game as the capital stands still for 90 minutes.
Despite the intense rivalry, Al-Ahly’s success in the Egyptian game remains unmatched; not even their fiercest adversaries come close to their success, with an astonishing 42 Egyptian Premier League titles to their name. Their more recent success has been formed on the continent, as the ‘Red Devils’ beat Zamalek in the sweetest of victories to win the CAF Champions League in 2020. Their success continued, as the club finished third place at the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup tournament, beating Brazilian giants Palmeiras on penalties. Their success was a statement: a loud signal that Egyptian football can compete with the best of them. Whilst Al-Ahly’s success is a source of pride for Egyptian football, it simply doesn’t compare to pride vested in another towering figure of Egypt.
Mohammed Salah is quite simply a legend in Egypt. The term is often overused, but it is hard to find another superlative that captures the influence he has on his nation. In the wake of Egypt’s upheaval following the revolution, Salah’s actions both on and off the pitch have helped heal a fractured state.
The dramatic 2-1 victory over D.R. Congo in 2017 to send Egypt to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years was a symbol of union and national pride from a country still reeling from oppression and hardship. Of course, Mo Salah was on hand to score both the goals, taking a seat firmly among the Egyptian Gods. The elation of qualifying soon turned to disappointment during the tournament itself, as fate intervened during the 2018 Champions League Final, a shoulder injury ruling him out for the few two games of the World Cup. Egypt crashed out without winning a point, but the fans’ love for Salah’s unwavering dedication to his nation only grew stronger.
The Liverpool forward has not forgotten his roots and his charity record is almost as immense as his goalscoring one. In July 2020, he donated 600,000 Egyptian pounds (£27,500) for an ambulance centre that will serve 30,000 people in his hometown village of Gharbia. This generous donation is just part of a long list of generous acts, including financing a girl's school for the village, setting up his own charity foundation to ensure equality and access to resources, and even attempting to prop up the nation’s currency by donating to the government during a period of stability.
Salah’s influence has been a beacon of light for a country whose love of the game had been blighted by hatred, violence, and revolution. One man’s humility could not have come at a more necessary time. Egyptian football is entering a bright future; the nation will be hopeful to enter the 2022 African Cup of Nations with aspirations to add to their immense 7 titles already. Before that, they have the tricky task of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, a feat made easier by the memories of their previous campaign. Whatever the future holds for Egyptian football, just know that their love and passion for the game will not be distinguished anytime soon, no matter the political situation.