By David Gold
July 23 – Cairo rivals Zamalek and Al Ahly played each other this weekend behind closed doors for the first time in the history of their century old rivalry as security concerns continue to affect Egyptian football.
The two sides met in the group stage of Africa’s Champions League in the first significant competitive meeting between Egyptian teams since the Port Said tragedy in February, which saw Al Ahly fans attacked by rivals from a team in Port Said, Al Masry.
Dozens died in that tragedy (pictured below), leading to football in the country being suspended.
National team games and matches in continental competitions are being allowed to take place but only behind closed doors.
Ahead of the match at the Military Academy Stadium (pictured top), neither side was happy to be playing without fans watching in the stadium, with Zamalek’s assistant coach Ismail Youssef saying: “Both teams will be affected negatively by the absence of their supporters – we would have liked to have a full house for such a game.”
Ahly manager Houssam El Badry added that supporters being absent “will definitely affect both teams’ performance.”
Al Ahly’s 1-0 victory was a major blow for Zamalek, who had lost their first group game to Berekum of Ghana.
Ahly had won their opening match against TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the clash between the fierce Cairo rivals was only the fifth time they had met in Africa’s main continental tournament.
They both have a good record in the Champions League, Ahly winning the competition six times, more than any other team, while Zamalek have claimed five titles.
Egyptian football shows no signing of returning to normality anytime soon, as the planned new season in August has been derailed by the Government’s refusal to sanction the beginning of the league.
The lack of football has seriously hampered the country, who crashed out of the African Nations Cup qualifiers for South Africa 2013 in the first qualifying round.
Meanwhile the national Under-23 team are preparing for the Olympic Games in London, but many of the squad will not have played much competitive football this year because of the crisis.
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