As AFCON trudges on in Egypt, we had hoped for the best. We hoped for an exciting performance and the chance to lift the coveted cup on our home-ground. We hoped for a good audience and great cheers from the bleachers, reminiscing noteworthy matches from the past. We remember 2006 and all the years that followed when men like Mostafa Tabla led chants until their voices gave out. We remember the Ultras, the Super Fans who gave cheering a new identity. Recently featured in Coca-Cola’s newest AFCON ad, the Ultras have made waves in the mainstream again. It is not like they haven’t been here before; they have been part of our football culture for more than a decade. The Ultras, Globally and in Egypt If Ultra movements were secret to Egypt until 2007, they have been one of the worst kept secrets on the planet. History tells us Ultras groups have been around longer than one might think. The Torcida Organizada and the Barra Bravas are notable examples that spread to Italy, where a movement not unlike the groups we see today developed. The concept reached Africa a little…
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: An Exploration of the Ultras Culture in Egypt
July 12, 2019
