This match involves two of the most successful clubs in Egyptian and African soccer, Al Ahly vs Zamalek They are both from the capital, Cairo. The first match was played on February 9, 1917 and Al Ahly won 1-0. They have since gone on to recorded the most wins; 63 out of 154 games, with Zamalek winning 35. It is one of the fiercest and most violent derbies in the world. Local officials are not picked for the match due to fears of biased officiating. In 2001, a Scottish referee, Kenny Clark took charge of the game that saw tensions and violence erupt in the last minutes. On average 80,000 fans fill the Cairo National Stadium to watch the two teams clash.
South Africa’s Soweto derby pits the Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates. It is the most eagerly-awaited match every season in the country’s football calendar. Kaizer Chiefs are also called Amakhosi, which means lords in the Zulu language, while Orlando Pirates are fondly referred to as the Buccaneers. The two clubs are from Soweto township in Johannesburg. The two are among successful sides in the country’s soccer history. The derby started when Kaizer Motaung, former striker at Orlando Pirates formed a splinter club when wrangles tore the club apart. He named it Kaizer XI. The teams first met on January 24, 1970. Amakhosi has won 24 matches while Buccaneers have won 17, and 21 have ended in draws. On August 3,2015, the derby recorded the highest number of fans in a South African soccer match when 94,807 people flocked the FNB Stadium to watch the clubs battle.
It involves two of the most successful clubs in Kenyan football; Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. The clubs are community based with Gor Mahia from the Luo tribe and AFC Leopards from the Luhya tribe. They first met on May 5, 1958 in a league match. AFC Leopards fondly called Ingw’e has won 27 matches while Gor Mahia popular as K’Ogalo, has won 23. The match is usually characterized by fan violence and numerous matches between the two have been cancelled. On October 23, 2010, eight fans died when a stampede erupted as fans tried to force their way into Nyayo National Stadium for the match.
The Tunis derby, which pits Club Africain against Esperance, is usually played at the 60,000-seater Olympique de Rades Stadium in Rades City. Club Africain was founded by nationalists who fought for the country’s independence, while Esperance drew its supported from Harkis, who fought for France. After Tunisia got independence, Esperance was mainly supported by politicians and working class while Cub Africain was supported by ordinary Tunisians. The headquarters of the two clubs are located about one kilometer apart in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.
This is a match between clubs from the Moroccan capital, Casablanca; Raja Casablanca against Wydad Casablanca. The first ever between these teams was played on 1956. Raja has been the most successful in the country’s football history. Raja Casablanca is supported by a majority of the working class while Wydad fan-base consists mainly of the middle-class Moroccans. On September 29, 2001, Youssef Belkouja, a Wydad Casablanca midfielder died of a heart attack outside the stadium, hours before the teams faced each other. On October 20, 2007, violence halted the derby as fans engaged in vandalism and riots. The Moroccan Federation ordered the two rivals to play their next two matches in empty stadium.
It features two of the most successful clubs in the history of Ivory Coast football; Asec Mimosas and Africa Sport. They come from the country’s capital, Abidjan. Asec Mimosas football academy has produced some of the country’s best talents such as Kolo Toure, Didier Drogba and Gervinho among others. On May 6, 2001, fans from the two clubs clashed during a derby and one person died, while more than 30 were injured.
Ibadan derby involves Enugu Rangers Football Club and Shooting stars. They are two of Nigeria’s most decorated clubs, both in the country and across the continent. Enugu Rangers Football Club was founded as a means of helping the Igbo tribe recover and heal from the 1970 Nigerian Civil war. The club went on to dominate Nigerian soccer. In a bid to stop Rangers success the Yoruba tribe formed their own regional club, the Shooting Stars. This derby is considered a tribal contest between the Igbo and Yoruba, tracing its start to 1970 when Igbo’s Rangers lost to Shooting Stars in the Nigerian FA Cup.
The clubs come from the two of the largest cities in Ghana. Hearts of Oak comes from the capital, Accra while their rivals, Asante Kotoko are from Kumasi. Both clubs are the most successful in Ghanaian football. They have also won several continental club titles. On May 9, 2001, the derby saw one of the world’s worst soccer tragedies after 126 fans were killed due to violent in protests after Hearts of Oak scored a goal. The violence turned tragic after police stepped in to quell the chaos inside Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.
