The Egypt Cup, also recognized as the Egyptian FA Cup and formerly known as the King Farouk Cup, stands as Egypt's premier knockout football cup competition. Notably, it holds the distinction of being the oldest club competition in Africa, marking a significant milestone in the continent's football history.
The Egypt Cup is the oldest tournament in the history of Egyptian football that is still being held to-date, and it is the first competition to be organized by the Egyptian Football Association.
Egyptian Football Association Logo
Early Years and Dominance
The inaugural champion of the trophy was Zamalek in 1922. However, it is not the first football tournament to be held in the country. The first local football tournament in Egypt was the Sultan Hussein Cup. It was launched in 1917, and its last edition was held in the 1937-38 season. The Sultan Hussein Cup witnessed the participation of Egyptian clubs with clubs belonging to the British army, which was present in Egypt at the time.
Zamalek achieved the title of the first edition of the Egypt Cup, after defeating Al Ittihad; 5-0 in the 1922 final match. Tersana won the second edition in 1923, followed by Al Ahly in 1924. The first Cairo derby between Zamalek and Al Ahly to be played in the final was in the 1928 edition which Al Ahly won by a score of 1-0, winning goal scored by Mamdouh Sakr.
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The 1930-31 edition saw Al Ahly winning Zamalek in the final by a score of 4-1. In the 1934-35 edition, the final was held on 10 May 1935. The biggest win in the 1944 final match between the Cairo giants; Zamalek and Al Ahly with a 6-0 win for Zamalek, goals scored by Zoklot (hat-trick), Mohsen El-Sehaimi (2 goals) and Abdel-Karim Sakr.
This was the second Cairo Derby in two years to end with a 6-0 win for Zamalek after the 1941-42 Cairo League match. Zamalek dominated the 1950s, as the Cairo giants won seven titles between the years of 1952 to 1962, starting from 1952, 1955, followed by four consecutive titles in (1957, 1958 (title shared with Al Ahly), 1959, 1960) and finally in 1962.
In 1958, and 1959, Zamalek claimed their title from Al Ahly, who won the 1961 title after winning El Qanah 5-0 in the final, the next year, Zamalek also claimed their title by winning Al Ittihad by a score of 5-1 in the final.
Fluctuations in Dominance
From 1962 to 1976, Zamalek and Al Ahly only won one title each, as El Qanah, Tersana and Al Ittihad dominated this era. However, Zamalek won the 1975, 1977, and 1979 titles, with Al Ahly claiming their title from their rivals in the 1978 final. In the early 1980s, Al Ahly dominated the championship, they won the 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1985. In the 1990s, the tournament saw the Cairo derby in the final for the first time in 14 years, after Al Ahly won Zamalek by a score of 2-1 in the 1992 final.
Egyptian FA Cup All Winners (1921-2024) | Egypt Cup
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Egypt Cup Finals
Cancellations and Interruptions
Despite its launch more than 100 years ago, the Egypt Cup has witnessed the holding of 90 editions so far, and has been canceled on more than one occasion. The tournament was canceled in the 1942-43 season, after players from Zamalek and Al-Ahly (the final belligerents) were suspended after their travel to Palestine, and opposition to the Football Association’s decision in this regard.
The tournament was not played between 1967 and 1971 due to the War of Attrition, and it was canceled in the 1973-74 season due to the October War. For several other reasons, the tournament was canceled in 1979-80, 1986-87 and 1993-94 seasons, and was canceled in the 1981-82 edition due to Zamalek’s dispute with the Football Association.
Egypt Cup and ITTF World Championships
Originally initiated by King Farouk, the then ruler of Egypt, the Egypt Cup was intended to be presented to the host nation at the beginning of the tournament. It marked a special occasion as it was the first time the ITTF World Championships took place on African soil. Over eight decades later, as the tournament returns to Africa, this time in Durban, the tradition of passing the Egypt Cup from one host to another remains intact.
The significance of the Egypt Cup extends beyond its ceremonial role. As it changes hands, the cup shines a light on the profound impact that table tennis has had in promoting friendship and goodwill throughout history. The sport has transcended borders, bridging cultural divides and bringing people from different nations together in the spirit of competition and camaraderie.
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