Top 10 Famous & Greatest Football Derbies In Africa 2024

Soccer all over the world always offers the most beautiful and exciting moments when it comes to football derbies from the same suburb or intercity rivals just like the derby d’italia and the El Clasico in Spain.

Soccer rivalry is one beautiful and essential aspect of the game, which comes with the thrills of witnessing a rival club lose to another rival.

Here on the continent, some of the legendary and long-standing derbies include the Soweto derby and Ashante derby.

As other matches are given as much importance and attention as those derbies because they are more than just a match as the pride of the clubs and fans is always at stake.

This article was first published on March 2 2020, and updated on March 13 2024

Most Prestigious, Famous & Sought-after Football Derbies In Africa

1. Al Ahly vs Zamalek – (Cairo Derby, Egypt )

The Cairo derby is arguably the biggest derby in Egypt, and it’s been played between the two most successful clubs in Egypt and to some extent Africa. Both clubs were named by CAF as the best club side of the 20th century respectively based on their antecedent and reputation on the continent.

To say this derby is fiery would be an understatement, North Africa is known for its passionate fans and their love for football which we’ve seen many times at some of the AFCOB competitions hosted in the North, and it is no surprise to see two of the greatest teams in Africa contest the battle for supremacy in the ancient city of Cairo.

This derby is so fierce and has led to so much violence in the past that the game between these two teams is now played on neutral ground in Cairo’s main stadium behind closed doors.

Unlike the derbies in Spain or Italy where former players of Inter Milan can be seen to later play for Milan and vice versa for Barcelona and Real Madrid, but players of both Cairo-based teams dare not cross the city divide and play for their city rival.

Over the years, the derby has transcended religion, ideology, and the colors of red and white, and is also considered the most-watched derbies.

As the highlight of the football season in Egypt with a wide live broadcast to the Middle East and Northern African countries since the ’70s, it’s usually been played twice each season.

Sometimes it goes beyond that when they meet in Cup matches and in Africa’s most prestigious club tournament. ‘The CAF Champions League.

2. Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates – (Soweto Derby, South Africa)

The Soweto Derby is South Africa’s two most historically successful clubs, both situated in the town of Soweto, Johannesburg.

The derby is also often contested in the 90,000-seater FNB Stadium in order to accommodate the large crowds that come to see their darling team play.

This derby has witnessed notable incidents that happened in the past, which include two major riots ‘The Ellis Park and Orkney Stadium Disaster’, both riots did occur during the derby with a death toll of over 42 to 43 people respectively recorded.

According to the report, the derby is less than 40 years old or thereabout, with the first games played back in 1970, which served the fans what to always look forward to, as it showed passion and intensity of the fans to make it one of the biggest club derbies in Africa and the world.

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On every matchday of the derby, the atmosphere does not disappoint, with different costumes on display coupled with ears disturbing sounds of the famous vuvuzela ringing out around the stadium as fans’ rivalry rekindles.

And so far since the first derby was played, the rivalry between the two clubs has come with great passion and enthusiasm as the derby remains one of the most followed and watched football derbies in Africa and South Africa.

3. Club Africain vs Esperance – (Tunis Derby, Tunisia)

Ironically, both clubs were founded a year apart, Club Africain in 1920 and Esperance in 1919. And since they were founded, their rivalry has been so hot, and it always comes with a lot of passion and enthusiasm from the players who are the main protagonist and of course the supporters of both teams.

The ‘Tunis Derby‘ has something similar to that of the Milan Derby, as Club Africain and Espérance are located in the same city, and they also play their home games in the same stadium (Stade El Menzah).

However, the only difference is that on derby days the match is been played at a bigger stadium which can accommodate close to 60,000 spectators of both teams.

The Tunis derby is also seen as a clash between the lower class of Esperance and the upper class of Club African.

Over the years Esperance has shown with their performance, results, and achievements both in the league and on the continent that they ain’t the lower class based club as they’ve been tagged.

4. Wydad Casablanca vs Raja Casablanca – (Casablanca Derby, Morocco)

The Casablanca Derby is regarded as an International derby between the two biggest Moroccan club sides Raja and Wydad, as the derby usually comes with a fierce and terrifying atmosphere at the Stade Mohammed V, which is the main stadium for the derby.

Casablanca derby often comes with massive national media coverage, and it’s usually the talk of the town in the build-up to the derby, as fans of both clubs in the city go head to head just like most of the derbies we see across the world which comes with riots, fight, and fire flare among the club supporters.

The first derby played between both clubs was in 1956 when Raja was victorious, and since then Raja has always dominated the derby with 39 victories compared to Wydad’s victory of 32.

In 2019, the two rival teams met in the quarter-finals of the Arab Club Championship which was the first derby outside their local competition.

5. Simba S. C. vs Young Africans – (Dar’ es Salam Derby, Tanzania)

The Dar’s Salam derby is no doubt one of the biggest derbies in East Africa. Millions of fans of both teams troop in from neighboring countries like Sudan, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and Kenya just to have a taste of what the derby will serve, as it is eagerly anticipated by fans of Young Africans who are known as ‘Yanga’ and the Simba faithful.

The derby which is also known as the Kariakoo derby has seen so many great moments between the two biggest Tanzania club sides over the years. Which has also seen over 100th matches between them since 1965, with the Yanga’s winning over 36 games, Simba 26, and over 37 draws.

To date, the derby has produced over 45 league titles between them and 11 Cecafa region cups. And for the records, the Yanga has won over 27 league titles to that of Simba with 18.

Meanwhile, Simba has more bragging rights in the Kagame Cup with six titles, and Yanga with just five to their name.

However, when it comes to titles won since the inception of both teams, Yanga has won more trophies compared to Simba.

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6. Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards – (Nairobi Derby, Kenya)

The Nairobi derby is popularly known as the Mashemeji derby or the Ingo-Dala derby, and it is the most fierce, biggest, football derbies, and oldest rivalry in Kenyan football history up to date.

Local fans are often referred to as Ingwe for Leopards fans and K’Ogalo for Gor Mahia respectively.

Both teams have been bitter rivals since they first locked horns in 1968, a match that was marred by a riot orchestrated by Gor Mahia fans after one of their players was shown a red by the ref following a dangerous tackle on Leopards player.

The derby has produced over 88 match meetings between them, with Gor Mahia winning the Kenya League a record 18 times, while Leopards has 12 titles to their name as of the 2019 season in the league.

Meshemeji Derby also has a strong history concerning the fan base, which has something to do with the tribe both teams came from.

As Gor Mahia’s fan base is predominantly dominated by the Luo while the AFC Leopard’s fan base is mostly Luhya which even makes the derby more fierce and terrifying.

Gor Mahia has always been on the receiving end of the law for fans’ hooliganism compared to the AFC Leopards fans.

7. SC Villa vs Express FC – (Kampala Derby, Uganda)

The Kampala derby is one of the undisputed club rivalries in Uganda, although the derby is currently not living up to the billing as it’s gradually fading due to the weaknesses at both clubs in terms of management and organization.

Over the years, the derby has always come with a fierce atmosphere with both fans of the team always at the edge of their seat, even the fear of the derby got to the referees as they always have the fear of being beaten by the fans.

Express FC usually boasts of a bigger fan base than that of SC Villa, which always makes a good case for the Red Eagles anytime they meet.

Also Express is the oldest football club as both clubs have 18 years of seniority in between them, and the Red Eagles don’t usually fail to exercise their seniority when it feels convenient and suitable for them.

8. Hearts Of Oak vs Asante Kotoko – (Ghana Derby, Ghana)

When talking about a country with great and fierce local derby in Africa, Ghana is no exception to the impact of rivalry on football.

The beautiful game in the West African country was built on local rivalries to generate much excitement for the fans.

The first local derby was in 1958, which was the first Ghanaian top-flight league match.

Although Accra is 248 kilometers away or thereabout to Kumasi, the country produced two of the biggest teams, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko. They have been long-time rivals going back decades, and both clubs have the country’s biggest fan base.

The last decade of this derby hasn’t come with clamour and panache in terms of organization and management wise.

However, the derby can’t be denied its status as the most successful domestic club derby in the land, which also attracts huge fans from Accra and Kumasi.

When it comes to the title won and most successful team, Asante Kotoko is the most successful of the two clubs with 25 league titles, five more than that of Hearts, and more so in 2019, Kotoko won the league to lay claim to their supremacy.

9. Al Merrick vs Al Hilal – (Omdurman Derby, Sudan)

The Omdurman derby is a historic match between the two strongest clubs in Sudan.

Both teams are based in the same city, Al Hilal with the most titles in the league and Al Merrick settling with the most Sudan cup.

The derby was first played in 1934, a match in which Al Merrick defeated Al Hilal. The derby is known as the derby of the Green Grass Market, due to the fact that there were no stadiums at the time when the match was held in Omdurman, the national capital of Sudan.

To date, the Green Grass Market is still very much popular among the fans because it was the actual start of a rivalry between the two famous club sides in Sudan.

Since the inception of the derby, fans of both clubs have seen over 152 derby matches between the two teams, as Al Merrick has won over 54 matches, three more than their arch-rivals, and 46 draws between them.

FAQ

What does derby mean in soccer?

A ‘derby’ is a match between local rivals. i.e. teams that are from the same city or the same part of the country. These local games have a special place in the hearts of fans and players.

What is the oldest football derby in the world?

Rules Derby (or Sheffield derby) is a football derby played in Sheffield, England between Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C. It was first played on 26 December 1860 and is the oldest football fixture in the world.

The name refers to the fact that the fixture was originally played under the Sheffield Rules.

Which is the biggest derby in Africa?

Soweto derby also known as  “El Kasico”
Location Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa
Teams Kaizer Chiefs Orlando Pirates
First meeting 24 January 1970

What are the two biggest rival soccer teams in South Africa?

It is the derby match between two of the biggest and oldest clubs in the South African League – Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

What is the difference between derby and rivalry?

In soccer, a rivalry is a hotly contested match between teams who meet regularly. Real Madrid-Barcelona is a rivalry. A derby, in the traditional sense, is a game between teams from the same city.

Is Real Madrid vs Barcelona a derby?

El Clasico is not just big in Spain but it is also considered one of the greatest club rivalries in world football. The first-ever match between Barcelona and Real Madrid took place on May 13, 1902, where the Catalan side clinched the tie 3-1.

Which Is The Biggest Derby In World Football?

• The Eternal Derby is the local derby in Belgrade, Serbia, between severe city rivals Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade.
• The Superclásico derby is contested between rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate in Argentina.
• World’s Biggest Derby – Rangers v Celtic.

What is the biggest UK Derby?

The North West Derby is without a doubt the most hotly contested derby in England. Both clubs have won it all, and are the most successful clubs in the country, with Manchester United recently becoming the undisputed better of the two.

Who is Chelsea’s biggest rival?

– West Ham United. These London Clubs are literally known as Chelsea’s biggest rivals because they are all from the same city.

Who is Man Utd’s biggest rival?

Liverpool

It’s the first time since both sides have been battling it out at the top of the league in over a decade. Despite this, Liverpool versus Manchester United is widely thought to be one of the biggest and most famous rivalries in football history.

Who is Manchester City’s biggest rival?

Most City fans are agreed that Manchester United is their main rivalry, a bitter rivalry that has reignited in the last few years due to the resurgence of Manchester City as one of the top teams in England following their brief absence from the top flight at the end of the 20th century and City’s re-emergence as a major.

Who are Leicester City’s rivals?

The fixture between Leicester City and Derby County is a football rivalry in the East Midlands. The fixture is often called an East Midlands derby. Although both clubs have a strong mutual dislike of each other, they both consider Nottingham Forest their main rival.

Who are West Ham’s rivals?

The rivalry between Millwall and West Ham United is one of the longest-standing and most bitter in English football. The two teams, then known as Millwall Athletic and Thames Ironworks, both originated in the East End of London and were located less than three miles apart.

Who is Everton’s biggest rival?

Everton’s main rivals are Liverpool, whose home stadium at Anfield is just under one mile away from Everton’s home at Goodison Park; the two clubs contest the Merseyside derby. Everton has been based at Goodison Park since 1892, having moved from their original home at Anfield following a disagreement over its rent.

Who is Spain’s soccer rival?

The Portugal–Spain football rivalry (also known as The Iberian War or The Iberian Derby) is one of the oldest football rivalries at a national level.

Why do soccer players walk out with a child?

There are various reasons why players walk in with children. These include promoting children’s rights campaigns, bringing the element of innocence to the game, fulfilling children’s dreams or making a profit of it, and reminding players that children are looking up to them.

Why do soccer players wear tape on their thighs?

When applied, they stretch and move with the body. This provides dynamic support and enables better proprioceptive feedback. You’ll often see these tapes in bright colors stuck to the leg of your favorite player. Because they are used for neural feedback, they are the number one choice for muscle injuries.

Why do footballers chew gum?

Why do football players chew gum? Football players may chew gum to reduce stress or to ensure that they are constantly hydrated during the match. Footballers may chew gum in a way to reduce the stress that they are facing during the match.

Do footballers wear 2 pairs of socks?

It prevents blisters, as they are caused by friction between your foot, and the sock, and wearing two pairs makes that friction happen between the two socks

Do footballers wear new boots every game?

They tend to wear a different pair to train in (mainly molded boots) and then they either wear a brand new pair for every game or they have a pair of boots they use for matches that get changed every few games. But players like David Beckham have a brand new pair of boots for each game.

How much is a Premier League red card?

As per the FA rules, red cards for violent conduct and serious foul play incur three-match automatic suspensions and a £55 fine

What is a white card in football?

If a player is shown a white card, he will be asked to leave the pitch for 10 minutes as a penalty and the team will be down to 10 men.

This gives an excellent opportunity for the referee to ask the player, who misbehaves or challenges his decision, to leave the pitch.

Why do soccer players take the ball after scoring?

The most common reason a soccer player will grab the ball after scoring is to speed up the restart of the game. The quicker the player can get the ball back to the center of the field after a goal, the sooner the opposition can take the kick-off and continue the game.

Why do soccer players slide on their knees?

A knee slide is a form of celebration after scoring a goal in soccer. It’s a common sight to see – a player sliding in celebration, often followed by more players sliding in from the same team.

What is the best body type for soccer?

Mesomorph body type

The mesomorph body type in soccer is characterized by being muscular and lean. They have high muscle and low-fat levels. This body type is regarded as the ideal body type as you get to have the best of both worlds. They are a strong competitor due to their superior balance of power, speed, agility, and endurance

Why do footballers spit out water?

This practice involves swishing a carbohydrate solution in your mouth for about 5 to 10 seconds and then spitting it out. Although the practice may look gross, some studies suggest that carb rinsing boosts athletic performance during high-intensity activities that last about 1 hour.

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