Nicosia derby

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LocationNicosia
First meetingOmonia 0–0 APOEL
(12 December 1953)
Latest meetingAPOEL 1-0 Omonia
(22 February 2026)
Derby of the Eternal Enemies
LocationNicosia
TeamsAPOEL
Omonia
First meetingOmonia 0–0 APOEL
(12 December 1953)
Latest meetingAPOEL 1-0 Omonia
(22 February 2026)
Next meetingTBA
Statistics
Meetings total200
Most winsAPOEL (81)
Top scorerGeorgios Efrem (12)
Largest victoryAPOEL 0 - 5 Omonia (6 November 1988)

The Derby of the Eternal Enemies (Greek: Ντέρμπι των αιωνίων αντιπάλων) refers to Nicosia's local derby, football matches played between APOEL and Omonia. It is the classic, biggest rivalry in Cypriot football, as the two teams are the most successful and most popular football clubs of the island. The rivalry is also indicative of social, cultural and political differences.[1]

In recent years, APOEL's successes in European Competitions, combined with Omonia's financial struggles, have led to APOEL mostly dominating the rivalry. A seven-and-a-half year long winless streak for Omonia came to an end on 7 December 2020.

The derby originates from 1948 when the board of APOEL FC sent a telegram to the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics (Greek: Σ.Ε.Γ.Α.Σ.), with the opportunity of the annual Panhellenic Track and Field Competition stating its wish for the "communist mutiny" to be ended. Club's players considering this action as a political comment on the Greek Civil War distanced themselves or were expelled from APOEL. A month later these players formed AC Omonia.[2] The first derby was played on 12 December 1953 and ended in a goalless draw.[3]

Records and statistics

See also

References

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