Football in Egypt

Last updated
Football in Egypt
Egyptian football portal icon.png
CountryEgypt
Governing body Egyptian Football Association
National team(s) Men’s National Team
Club competitions
International competitions

Football is the most popular sport in Egypt, many Egyptians gather around to watch various Egyptian clubs and the Egyptian national football team play on an almost daily basis. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Al Ahly and Zamalek are amongst the most popular in the country, both of which are based in Cairo. Both teams compete in the Egyptian Premier League, the highest tier of Egyptian football. These two teams compete in the Cairo Derby.

Other notable teams include: Ismaily, Al-Masry, Al Ittihad and Pyramids FC.

Premier League

The Egyptian Premier League (League A) has eighteen teams.[ citation needed ] There is no official English translation or title for the Egyptian League.[ citation needed ] Due to Sponsorships the official name of the league is the WE Premier League. The league was also called Vodafone Premier League back in the 2006/2007 for the same reasons.[ citation needed ]

Al-Ahly and Zamalek leaded the top six most popular football clubs on social media from Africa on 12 October 2022: [4]

#Football clubCountryFollowers
1 Al-Ahly Egypt 33 million
2 Zamalek Egypt 22 million
3 Raja CA Morocco 7 million
4 Kaizer Chiefs South Africa 6 million
5 Orlando Pirates South Africa 4 million
6 Simba SC Tanzania 4 million

National football team's achievements

The Egypt national football team, also known under the nickname of The Pharaohs, is, as their name states, the national team of Egypt and is administered by the Egyptian Football Association. The team was founded in 1921, [5] although a team had been fielded in the 1920 Summer Olympics. Egypt participated in the 1924 Olympics, and achieved the eighth place in the 1928 Olympics.

The national football team of Egypt played numerous home games at the 75,000-capacity Cairo International Stadium. Panorma Cairo Stadium.jpg
The national football team of Egypt played numerous home games at the 75,000-capacity Cairo International Stadium.
The national football team of Egypt in the 1928 Olympics. 1928 Egyptian Olympic football team.jpg
The national football team of Egypt in the 1928 Olympics.

The team has won multiple cups over the years. They won the African Cup of Nations 7 times. Egypt won the inaugural Cup in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010, [6] making them record holders of most African cup wins and most wins in a row (for winning 3 times in a row).

Their highest FIFA ranking was in July 2010 where they were ranked 9th in the world, making it their greatest achievement. [5] They were the first from an African country and also, from an Arab country to participate in the World Cup when they played in 1934, [7] losing to Hungary 4-2.

Egypt played their second World Cup in 1990, where they didn't pass through the first stage after tying Ireland, Netherlands and losing to England 1-0 in what remains their last World Cup game.[ citation needed ]

Egypt Qualified for the 2018 World Cup which was the first time in 28 years. They were placed in Group A with hosts Russia, Uruguay and KSA. Egypt lost to Uruguay in the 90th minute and then lost 3-1 to Russia and scored the goal Mohamed Salah from a penalty in the last game against Saudi Arabia, Egypt lost 2-1 and scored the goal Mohamed Salah in the 22nd minute.[ citation needed ]

Africa

Winners (7): 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010 (Most successful team)
Runners-up (2): 1962, 2017, 2022
Third place (3): 1963, 1970, 1974
Fourth place (3): 1976, 1980, 1984
Champions (2): 1987, 1995
Third place (1): 1973
Runners-up (2): 1988, 2007
Champions (1): 2011 (Most successful team)

Other

Stadiums

Egypt has a total of 27 football stadiums spread around the country. [8] The main stadium used to be Cairo International Stadium, but when the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria was built, it replaced it. The stadium has become the home stadium for the Egyptian National Team. This stadium carries a capacity of 86,000 which is great for all the fans who watch the Egyptian Premier League games. [9] The reason that this stadium was built was for Egypt's bid for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Egypt has hosted 5 African Cups in 1959, 1974, 1986, 2006 and 2019. The country also hosted the 1997 U-17 World Cup and the 2009 U-20 World Cup.

#StadiumCapacityLocationHome TeamOpened
1 New Administrative Capital Stadium 93,940 New Administrative Capital Egypt football team 2024
2 Borg El Arab Stadium 86,000 Borg El Arab Egypt football team & Al-Masry SC 2007
3 Cairo International Stadium 75,000 Cairo Egypt football team & Al Ahly SC & Zamalek SC 23 July 1960
4 Egyptian Army Stadium 45,000 Suez Petrojet FC 2009
5 Arab Contractors Stadium 35,000 Cairo Al Mokawloon & FC Masr 1979
6 30 June Stadium 30,000 Cairo Wadi Degla SC 2009
7 Al-Salam Stadium 30,000 Cairo El-Entag El-Harby SC 2009
8 Beni Ebeid Stadium 30,000 Bani Ebid Beni Ebeid SC

See also

Related Research Articles

The Egypt national football team, nicknamed "Pharaohs", represents Egypt in men's international football, and is governed by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), the governing body of football in Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zamalek SC</span> Association football club in Cairo, Egypt

Zamalek Sporting Club, commonly referred to as Al Zamalek, is an Egyptian sports club based in Giza, Egypt. The club is mainly known for its professional football team, which plays in the Egyptian Premier League, the top tier of the Egyptian football league system. The club is renowned for its consistent success at both domestic and continental levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cairo International Stadium</span> Football stadium in Cairo, Egypt

The Cairo International Stadium, formerly known as Nasser Stadium, is an Olympic-standard, multi-use stadium with an all-seated capacity of 75,000. The architect of the stadium is the German Werner March, who had built from 1934 to 1936 the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The engineering and construction supervision of the stadium was performed by ACE Moharram Bakhoum. It is the 69th largest stadium in the world and the 3rd largest stadium in Egypt. Located in Nasr City; a suburb north east of Cairo, it was completed in 1960, and was inaugurated by President Gamal Abd El Nasser on 23 July that year, the eighth anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. Zamalek and Al Ahly use the stadium for most of their home games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hassan Shehata</span> Egyptian football manager (born 1947)

Hassan Shehata is an Egyptian retired football manager and former professional football player. He played as a forward. As a manager, Shehata led Egypt to three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations titles, in 2006, 2008 and 2010. He was the first ever coach to win three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations titles. Shehata is one of only two coaches to win the Africa Cup three times, along with Ghana's Charles Gyamfi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egyptian Premier League</span> Association football league in Egypt

The Egyptian Premier League, also known as the Nile League for sponsorship purposes, after the addition of title sponsor Nile Developments, is a professional association football league in Egypt and the highest division of Egyptian football league system. The league comprises 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Egyptian Second Division A. Seasons mostly run from August to May. Unlike most other leagues, games are played on all days of the week.

Ghazl El Mahalla Sporting Club, commonly referred to as El Mahalla or simply Mahalla, is an Egyptian football club based in El Mahalla El Kubra. They compete in the Egyptian Second Division, the second-highest tier of the Egyptian football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tersana SC</span> Association football club in Giza, Egypt

Tersana Sporting Club is an Egyptian sports club based in Meet Okba, Giza, Egypt. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Egyptian Second Division, the second-highest tier in the Egyptian football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohamed Aboutrika</span> Egyptian footballer (born 1978)

Mohamed Mohamed Mohamed Aboutrika is an Egyptian retired professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and a forward. He won the African Footballer of the Year award in 2008 beating the previous years winner Emmanuel Adebayor, and was one of five nominees for the 2006 award, and one of the ten nominated for the 2013 award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taha Basry</span> Egyptian footballer (1946–2014)

Taha Basry was an Egyptian professional football player and manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ismaily SC</span> Association football club in Ismailia, Egypt

Ismaily Sporting Club is an Egyptian professional football club, established on 20 March 1921 as El Nahda Sporting Club, based in Ismaïlia, Egypt. The club is best known for its football team. Also it's considered as an Egyptian National Club, where they helped the famous local tour of duty play for the benefit of the homeland against the occupying armies. The club's nickname The Brazilians, is a reference to their uniforms, which echo those of the Brazil national team, and similar style of play.

Mohamed Ibrahim Abou El Yazid El Shenawy is an Egyptian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Ceramica Cleopatra.

The 2008–09 Egyptian Premier League was the fifty-second season of the Egyptian Premier League since its establishment in 1948. The league is composed of sixteen teams. Al Ahly SC became the defending champions for the fourth year in a row and the thirty-third time in the league's history. This season began on 8 August 2008 and ended on 24 May 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdulrahman Fawzi</span> Egyptian footballer (1909–1988)

Abdelrahman Fawzy was an Egyptian professional football player and manager, who played as a centre forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 CAF Champions League final</span> Football match

The 2002 CAF Champions League Final was a football match that took place on Friday, 13 December 2002 at 17:00 UTC. The match was played at the Cairo Stadium, in Cairo, Egypt, to determine the winner of the 2002 CAF Champions League. The final was contested by Zamalek and Raja CA, making it an all-Arabic club final for the fifth time in the history of the competition. The game was won by Zamalek 1–0 by Abdelhamid's Goal, after a 0–0 draw in Casablanca.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohamed Salah</span> Egyptian footballer (born 1992)

Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly, known as Mohamed Salah or Mo Salah, is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a right winger or forward for Premier League club Liverpool and captains the Egypt national team. Regarded as one of the best players of his generation and among the greatest African players of all time, he is known for his clinical finishing, dribbling and speed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 CAF Champions League final</span> Football match

The 2007 CAF Champions League Final was the final of the 2007 CAF Champions League, the 43rd edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the 11th edition under the current CAF Champions League format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zamalek SC Handball</span> Handball club in Giza, Egypt

Zamalek Handball Club, also called "Commandos" commonly known as Zamalek H.C, or simply as Zamalek SC, is an Egyptian handball team based in Giza, Egypt. It is a part of the Zamalek SC multi sports club, and was founded on 1958. The club competes domestically in the Egyptian League and in the African Champions League It is the most successful handball club in Egypt and Africa with a record number of domestic and international titles.

Zamalek Volleyball Club commonly known as Zamalek V.C, or simply as Zamalek SC, is a professional volleyball team based in Giza, Egypt. founded in 1952. They compete in the Egyptian League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taher Mohamed</span> Egyptian footballer (born 1997)

Taher Mohamed Ahmed Taher Mohamed Mahmoud is an Egyptian professional footballer, who plays for Egyptian Premier League club Al Ahly and the Egypt national team as a winger.

Al Ahly Football Club, commonly referred to as Al Ahly, is an Egyptian professional football club based in Cairo, and is considered as the most successful team in Africa and as one of the continent's giants.

References

  1. Mohamed El-Sayed (2004). "When life began". Ahram Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  2. Youssef Hamza. "Egypt's Ultras have shown military rule the red card". The National. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  3. Lavric, Eva (2008). The Linguistics of Football. ISBN   9783823363989 . Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  4. https://boxscorenews.com/alahly-sc-tops-all-african-club-teams-with-largest-social-media-following-p167253-272.htm
  5. 1 2 "Country info". FIFA World Cup. Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  6. Aaron Ross (18 August 2012). "The man at the epicentre of Egyptian football". The National. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  7. Mahfoud Amara (May–August 2014). "Sport and Political Leaders in the Arab World" (PDF). Histoire@Politique. 23. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  8. "Stadiums in Egypt". Bugarri. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  9. "Stadiums in Egypt". FIFA World Cup. 3 January 2013. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2013.