The Sultan Hussein Cup (1917–1938) was the first local Egyptian football competition. It preceded the Egyptian Cup & the regional leagues (Cairo, Alexandria, Bahary & Canal).[1] The first Egyptian team to win the trophy was Zamalek SC.[2][3]
History
In 1916, the idea of establishing a football league in the Sultanate of Egypt was proposed. The league would include Egyptian teams and teams from the allies' military clubs, including the British. The competition was named after Sultan Hussein Kamel.
Zamalek was the only Egyptian club to participate in the championship and eventually won the cup in 1920–21. This encouraged other Egyptian clubs to participate. Initially, Al Ahly refused to take part. In 1918, Al Ahly decided to take part as a sign of resistance to the British and a way to display the Egyptian presence in the sport.[4]
