Al Ahly 1911
The development of football in Egypt has a very familiar colonial feel to it.The earliest football was played by Europeans, mainly Britons ( though Kasr El-Nile Club, later known as Zamalek, was founded by a Belgian in1911).
Then, as national consciousness and anti colonialism evolved more 'home grown' clubs, run by Egyptians for Egyptians, came into being. For example, Al-Masry was the first club for Egyptians in Port Said, which was full of clubs for the foreign communities
When, In 1917, a national football league was begun, foreign military teams were also included. The competition, Sultan Hussein Cup (1917) was won by British military teams for the first four seasons.
The Egyptian Football Association was established in 1921, but an Egyptian Select XI appeared at the 1920 Olympic games in Antwerp. The 16 man squad included 10 Al Ahly players.They beat Belgium 4-2 in a friendly and then lost 2-1 to Italy before beating Yugoslavia 4-2 in the consolation round.
The 1924 Olympics saw Egypt beat Hungary 3-0 before being tonked 5-0 by Sweden in the quarter finals.
These national teams featured Hussein Hegazi, formerly of Dulwich Hamlet and Fulham.
In the 1928 Olympics Egypt got off to a great start , wins against Turkey (7-1) and Portugal (2-1) putting them in the semi finals, where they lost 6-0 to Argentina. The bronze medal match was a catastrophe, Italy beating Egypt 11-3.
Egypt and Palestine captains Mahmoud Mokhtar and Gedalyahu Fuchs
El-Tetsh (Mahmoud Mokhtar) in action against Palestine
Egypt steamed across the Med to Naples where they lost their only game to Hungary. Egypt were managed by a Scotsman, James McRea. Abdel Rahman Fawz became the first African to score in a World Cup finals.
Their goalkeeper, Mustafa Kamel Mansour, who later played for Glasgow side Queens Park, maintained until his death in 2002 that the Egyptians were robbed in this match.
Egypt en route to Italy, 1934
