Zamalek 100: Memorable triumphs

First Egypt Cup title (1922) Zamalek become the first team to win the oldest domestic competition after winning the Egypt Cup, which was the first official tournament introduced by the Egyptian Football Association in 1922. The team’s first local triumph bizarrely came at the expense of an English club during the British occupation of Egypt. Zamalek, whose squad included legendary figure, Hussein Hegazy, at the time scored in extra time to claim a 2-1 victory and make history. 6-0 win over Ahly (1944) Zamalek won the 1944 Egypt Cup in stunning fashion, crushing arch rivals Ahly 6-0 in the final in the biggest Cairo derby score-line to date. Ahly were barely ready for the match after their regular players served an eight-month suspension for playing friendly games in Palestine in defiance of an Egyptian Football Association warning. Zamalek were consequently named Farouk after Egypt’s then king, who heaped praise on the club after watching the memorable game from the stands. First Egyptian league title (1960) Zamalek tasted their first Egyptian league success in 1960, 12 years following the inauguration of the premier domestic competition. They turned to the money of millionaire and club chairman Abdel-Latif Abou-Regeila in a bid to end the domination of Ahly after their arch-rivals clinched nine successive titles. Their efforts eventually paid dividends when they finished on top of the table with a narrow one-point lead over second-placed Tersana. One-goal difference (1978) Zamalek snatched the league title in 1978 following a thrilling and nail-biting race with Ahly. The White Knights won on the final day of the season by virtue of a better goal difference than Ahly. Only one goal separated the fierce foes after Zamalek defeated Ismaily 2-0 and Ahly crushed Ghazl El-Mahalla 4-0 in the last round. Champions League record (1996) Zamalek set a record of four African Champions League triumphs after winning the 1996 title at the expense of Nigeria’s Shooting Stars. They slumped to a 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Nigeria but defeated Shooting Stars by the same score-line before around 90,000 fans at a packed Cairo Stadium to level the aggregate score. Zamalek settled the tie in their favour after winning 5-4 on penalties following a heroic display from goalkeeper Nader El-Sayed. In a rare sense of unity, many Ahly fans were present at Cairo Stadium to support Zamalek. Breathtaking league triumph (2003) Zamalek’s 2003 league triumph will go down in history as one of the most interesting finales to an Egyptian season. Ahly were overwhelming favourites to beat unfancied ENPPI on the final day and win the title. Zamalek, who were facing Ismaily at the same afternoon kick-off, had little hope that they could cause an upset. Zamalek beat Ismaily 1-0 at Cairo Stadium in front of few hundred fans while Ahly were struggling to break down a resilient ENPPI side, who took a shocking first-half lead. Following the final whistle, Zamalek players were anxiously awaiting the outcome of Ahly’s match, which was in its dying minutes. Ahly trudged off in disbelief after losing 1-0 to ENPPI, a result that sparked wild celebrations among Zamalek players few kilometres away.