On Sunday night, 2 June, hordes of people descended upon the streets of Downtown Cairo to watch the Champions League Final held in Madrid this year. Arriving at the Qahwa (street café) early was a smart decision; by the time the clock struck nine most of the seats, and glasses of tea, were full. The continuous supply of shisha and drinks meant that no one was going anywhere; visits to the bathroom would risk you your seat. Being crammed together like sardines made it easier to stay put, sip on your shay bi nana (mint tea) and occasionally jump up and yell when necessary. Liverpool’s early penalty, taken by none other than Mohammad Salah, drew each of us out of our rickety wooden chairs and into the air. The atmosphere was contagious, and if you weren’t a football fan before then you certainly would become one now. Even though the match’s most exciting moments happened in the first and final minutes, all the action in between still had people on the edges of their seats. Whenever Mo Salah broke through with the ball, effortlessly charging through the Spurs’ line of…
