With a hundred domestic and continental trophies, Al Ahly make Zamalek, with 47, look like parvenus but the sheer volume the two clubs share demonstrate how their rivalry has come to dominate not just Cairo, but Egypt and Africa. Al Ahly have their roots in the struggle against British colonialism while Zamalek were seen as the team of the king and they have continued to battle each other, so violently that entire league seasons have been suspended and cancelled because of riots. People have died, neutral venues were made mandatory and foreign referees have had to be engaged to kill suspicion about bias.