February 15, 2025

Football Africa

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Despite His Loss in the Intercontinental Cup… Why is Al Ahly Called “The Real Madrid of Africa”?

4 min read
al ahly

Al Ahly falls into Pachuca's trap and fails to qualify for a showdown with Real Madrid

Al Ahly SC of Egypt failed to qualify for the final of the Intercontinental Cup, after an unexpected defeat to Mexican side Pachuca in a penalty shootout, a result that shattered the hopes of African fans who were hoping to see a showdown between Al Ahly and Real Madrid. Despite this surprising loss, Al Ahly remains one of the biggest clubs in Africa and the world, thanks to its numerous achievements and rich history, which have earned it the title of “The Real Madrid of Africa.”

Al Ahly had a great opportunity to reach the final of the Intercontinental Cup, especially after Pachuca missed the first two penalty kicks in the match. However, Al Ahly failed to capitalize on this chance and eventually lost the match. Nonetheless, the Egyptian club remains one of the most successful clubs in Africa, with 154 official titles, making it one of the most decorated clubs worldwide.

A Remarkable Continental Dominance

Before this defeat to Pachuca, Al Ahly added another title to its collection, the three-time champions cup, bringing its total number of continental titles to 27, just four behind Real Madrid, the most decorated club in international club competitions. Real Madrid now has the opportunity to extend the gap when they play Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final, aiming for their 32nd world title.

Al Ahly also holds the title of “Club of the 20th Century” in Africa, which was earned by dominating the CAF Champions League, where it has won the title 12 times, a significant gap over its closest competitors, Egyptian club Zamalek and Congolese side TP Mazembe, who have won it five times each. Al Ahly also holds the record for the most African Super Cups, with 8 titles, ahead of Zamalek by 3 titles.

Al Ahly has proven its absolute dominance in African football by winning the CAF Champions League 4 times in the last 5 editions, reaching the final every time, with only one loss to Morocco’s Wydad in the final.

Global Achievements in the FIFA Club World Cup

On the global stage, Al Ahly continues to write history in the FIFA Club World Cup. With its participation in the 2025 edition, it will become the second most participated club in the tournament with 10 appearances, behind New Zealand’s Auckland City.

The Egyptian club also holds the record for the most matches played in the tournament, with 25 games, and ranks second in victories with 10 wins, just one behind Real Madrid.

Al Ahly’s attack is the second strongest in Club World Cup history with 31 goals, behind Real Madrid, who have scored 40 goals.

Defensively, Al Ahly holds the record for the most clean sheets with 7, and its goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy is the player with the most clean sheets in the tournament, with 4, alongside world-class goalkeepers like Manuel Neuer and Dida.

As always, Al Ahly will participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where it will compete in Group A alongside Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, Porto of Portugal, and Palmeiras of Brazil. The first match of the tournament will see Al Ahly face Inter Miami.

Unrivaled Local Dominance

Locally, Al Ahly boasts 44 Egyptian Premier League titles, a number that surpasses the combined total of all other Egyptian clubs, as the other clubs have only won 21 league titles in total. Its closest rival, Zamalek, has won just 14 league titles, highlighting the vast gap between Al Ahly and other Egyptian clubs.

According to the Historical and Statistical website, Al Ahly ranks ninth globally in terms of domestic league titles, surpassing clubs like Juventus in Italy (36 league titles) and Real Madrid in Spain (36 La Liga titles).

Al Ahly has also won the Egypt Cup 39 times, making it the most successful club in Egypt in this competition and the fourth most successful club in the world in terms of domestic cup titles.

A Well-Deserved Global Status

Thanks to these massive achievements and record-breaking statistics, Al Ahly has become a role model not only in Africa but also on the global stage. Beyond its success in domestic and continental competitions, Al Ahly has managed to compete with the top clubs worldwide, earning it the well-deserved title of “The Real Madrid of Africa.”

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