Al Ahly FC

It is 1907. Egypt is nominally a free state under the Ottoman Empire. Only it isn’t. Having invaded Egypt in 1882 to secure their interests in the Suez Canal, the British ruled from behind the scenes. British military, business, and political officials lived in and around the Garden City district of Cairo, where Lord Cromer, the British Consul-General, resided.

This ‘veiled protectorate’, as it has since been known, brought British, Italian, and Greek communities into the Egyptian capital. With them, they brought football – that fast-growing game of the industrial cities of Europe. British soldiers and officials formed their own teams and created mini-leagues to entertain themselves during their downtime. The locals were excluded.

Watching on, however, was a group of patriotically minded Egyptian students. Chief among them was a young lawyer named Omar Lotfy. He had the idea of forming an Egyptian club, for Egyptians. A team to represent the working men of Cairo – one that would serve a dual purpose: to offer local young men a healthy pastime, and to provide a forum for discussing political unity and independence.

And so, that is what he did. Al Ahly was founded with the explicit aim of furthering Egyptian independence. The Eagle of Saladin became its emblem – Saladin being the legendary military leader who reclaimed Jerusalem from the Crusaders, striking fast and with precision. The team played in the red and white of the Egyptian flag. Even the name, Al Ahly, means The National Club.

The club grew quickly, and in 1917 it was invited to join the British-sponsored Sultan Hussein Cup. As a gesture of protest, they declined, joining a year later instead.

But once they started playing, they really started playing. Al Ahly is now the most successful football club in Africa. They have claimed 45 Egyptian Premier League titles, dozens of national cups, and been crowned African champions a record 12 times.

The club has long been based on Gezira Island, in the heart of Cairo. This island in the middle of the Nile is an oasis of sports fields and parks in an otherwise frantic city of over 20 million people. The original Al Ahly stadium stands, fittingly, just across from the colonial-era Gezira Sporting Club – a deliberate decision by the club’s founders. Just minutes away are the Cairo Tower and the Cairo Opera House, landmarks that help define this affluent and culturally rich district.

That said, this is no team for the elites. Ever since its inception, Al Ahly has represented the working class of Egypt. Known as The People’s Club, it stood firm against colonial and royalist teams and enjoys passionate support from Egypt’s vast diaspora around the world. It is the team of the taxi drivers, street vendors and shop owners of Egypt. It bleeds Egyptian pride and identity.

Today the team has moved into the much larger Cairo International Stadium a few minutes drive away over the river, it can hold more than 70,000 fans. That said, as part of the huge investment pouring into Cario (and 'New Cairo - a new city being built with Gulf investment to house the government) Al Ahly are set to get a new home. The proposed 42,000 seater stadium will be the anchor tenant and attraction of a new Al Ahly Sports Club Sports City district. The stadium has a beautiful archway dominating the skyline, welcoming guests to the new district.

Al Ahly’s influence extends far beyond the football pitch. Its ultra-passionate fan group, the Ultras Ahlawy, played an active role in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, standing on the frontlines of protests in Tahrir Square and defending fellow demonstrators. Their organisation and unity, forged in the terraces, became a force for social change – a powerful example of how deeply the club is embedded in the community. In times of tragedy too, such as the Port Said stadium disaster of 2012, where dozens of Al Ahly fans lost their lives, the supporters have come together in mourning and solidarity, calling for justice and remembrance.

To this day, Al Ahly remains more than a football club. It is a symbol of national pride, resilience, and resistance. Rooted in Egypt’s history, carried forward by the people, and always standing for something greater than the game itself – Al Ahly is not just a team; it is a movement, a community, and a beating heart of Egyptian identity.