Fansided

30 best soccer rivalries in the world

By Andrew Dowdeswell

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 23: Shirts bearing the names of Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF are seen on display at a merchandise stall prior to the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 23, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 23: Shirts bearing the names of Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF are seen on display at a merchandise stall prior to the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 23, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /
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Zamalek’s Hazem Emam (R) vies for the ball against Al-Ahly’s Saad Samir during their Egyptian Premier League football match at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on January 29, 2015. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images)
Zamalek’s Hazem Emam (R) vies for the ball against Al-Ahly’s Saad Samir during their Egyptian Premier League football match at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on January 29, 2015. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images) /

26. Al Ahly vs Zamalek

The two biggest teams in Africa make up the biggest game in Africa, and the Cairo Derby is one of the most explosive, fierce and frightening matches in world soccer. With the two Cairo clubs dominating not only the success of Egyptian football but African football, the two have supporters throughout the continent, and whenever they meet, there is great anger and animosity between the two sets of supporters.

Driven by the success of the other, this rivalry is a tale of great jealousy and bitterness. Such anger has led to great violence, rioting and some extraordinary measures being taken to subdue such a hostile atmosphere.

With 131 trophies in the trophy cabinet, Al Ahly has dominated the relationship, although Zemalek’s 85 titles displays the success that the two clubs have enjoyed. Al Ahly was named as the African Club of the Century in 2000, with Zemalek coming in second, and the continued success of the two has resulted in such a bitter rivalry.

The rioting and violence have gotten so out of control that games must now be played at the neutral Cairo International Stadium, and referees must be foreign to kill suspicions of bias and corruption. Assault, abuse, and murder are a common occurrence at each and every game, and with such hostility between the two fans, it looks as though it will continue.

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