. . World News – AU – Caf Champions League Final Preview: The Ahly Zamalek rivalry that defines a city | goal. com

In reality, which is the flagship event of the African club in this most atypical year, there is a certain level of consolation football is contested by the two most successful units on the continent.

If a disk-shaped airship was supposed to land on earth, carrying living things from a distant planet in the vast emptiness of space, and they requested (or even nicely asked) a crash course in all the caf that the Champions League is about that they would get no better answer than Al Ahly versus Zamalek.

The stakes are not quite as galactic as depicted in this scenario, but the importance and scope of this game are not material.

You see, this is less of a rivalry between football clubs and more an ideological, almost political, divide. In a world that is increasingly freed from individualism, these two giants exist as the basis of social identity in Egypt. One is either an Ahly pendant or a Zamalek pendant.

The feeling on both sides is so strong that even Mohamed Salah, the most famous football star in his country, clearly expressed his preference and instead voted for an exciting final in a recent interview.

After all, the history of the Cairo derby was full of suspicion, accusations, conspiracy theories and even violence.

The fire of his passion was so hot that in a famous case in December 1971, the entire league season went up in flames after the award of a penalty to Zamalek Ahly fans stormed the pitch in protest.

Five years ago, the fire was literally of the type that burned part of the stadium during the derby when fans spurred on by the dissent of Ahly fans went amok.

In 2003, Ahly lost the title on the last day of the league season, and to this day, some claim it was at the behest of high-ranking government officials who favored Zamalek and ordered their players to throw the ultimate match against ENPPI.

When the two teams met in the Super Cup in February, a fight broke out after the White Knights’ penalty shoot-out. A few days later, the winners came to protest against the sanctions imposed (against both teams) by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA).

Even the practice of having foreign referees officiate since 1956 has not done much to allay concerns. For all the fans know, the whole world is divided on the same principle as them. Knowing that, it’s no surprise that Zamalek, the Ahly, became the 20th Century Club. Century, immediately claimed bias and challenged that claim because he had won more continental titles overall.

It’s this depth of feeling, this intensity, this constant pursuit of one-upmanship that will come to a head on Friday night when Ahly and Zamalek grapple (this is supposed to work) essentially as a belated “tie -Breaker « ).

That its climax – despite winning 13 Caf Champions League titles and appearing in 19 finals that they have never crossed in the final – will take place in an empty stadium in Cairo is the cruelest irony. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and in the interests of public safety, Caf and EFA published a joint statement on this two days ago.

Especially when you consider that there was a risk of cancellation at a certain point in time, this is certainly okay – better half a loaf than none at all. Or, quite honestly, it could be the best. In the current circumstances, the very last thing Caf wants to deal with is controversy and uncertainty in its Showpiece Club Finals as the world is watching, especially in a week its president was indicted by the Fifa Ethics Committee.

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic also unbalanced the 2019/20 Champions League. Plans for a transition from August to May were thwarted, and the host city had to be switched from Douala to Cairo (and only because of the results of the semi-finals that didn’t take place until October).

The focus will now be solely on the players, and they must seize the opportunity and interpret their coaches’ tactical plans to create a thrilling spectacle.

For Ahly, coach Pitso Mosimane is under a lot of pressure as he was substituted on by Mamelodi Sundowns at great expense. Its success depends heavily on it, not least the prospects of coaches from sub-Saharan Africa, to whom the doors to the larger clubs in North Africa are largely closed. Not only would victory here keep him in the job, but it could also completely reform the culture of African club football.

So far, reviews of his work have been largely positive and Ahly will come in as a favorite. The Red Devils turned Wydad Casablanca around in the semi-finals in an impressive way and can fall back on the excellent Ali Maaloul, one of the best left-backs on the continent, as well as Hussein El Shahat and Marwan Mohsen in attack.

Portuguese Jaime Pacheco is leading Zamalek back for a second stint after his first six years. He has an all-star frontline in Achraf Bencharki and Mostafa Mohamed; Through the competition, Zamalek never won a game without these two points.

Beyond Covid, beyond a rivalry that defines a city and shakes a nation, beyond the gritty politics of Caf, this is ultimately what matters. The two best teams on the continent, full of offensive talent; one with a more collectivist ideal, the other with a blockbuster front.

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Al Ahly SC, CAF Champions League, Zamalek SC, Egyptian Premier League, Cairo Derby, Confederation of African Football, Pitso Mosimane, Mamelodi Sundowns F. . C.. .