Al Merreikh was founded as Sport Club of Al Masalma in late 1908 by pupils from Al Masalam district in Omdurman and was then renamed Al Merreikh Football Club in 1927.
The club was the winner of the first Sudanese football championship in 1934, long before Sudan became independent.
The first match between Al Merreikh and arch rivals Al Hilal was in 1934 when Merreikh defeated Al Hilal with two goals from Al Zain Haiba. The match is known historically as the match of the green grass market since there were no stadiums at that time and the match was held in the famous square of Omdurman, then the national capital of Sudan.
Since independence, Al Merreikh have won 17 Sudanese titles, including the league and cup double last year. They trail Al Hilal in overall league and cup titles but have achieved what their arch rivals have not yet been able to do win a title in African club competition.
Al Merreikh were victors in the 1989 edition of the old African Cup Winners Cup, beating Nigerias Bendel Insurance in the final. Al Merreikh compete in the group phase of the African Champions League for the first time this year.
The club have their own newspaper in Sudan, such is the fervour of support they enjoy.
Mthokozisi Msomi of Township Rollers during the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix
Mthokozisi Msomi of Township Rollers during the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix
Tshepo Matete of Township Rollers during the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix
Main Ditshupo of Township Roller and Khaled Taha of EL Merreikh during the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix
Ivan Ntege of Township Rollersduring the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix
Mohamen Mahmoud of EL Merreikh and Lemony Tshireletso of Township Rollers during the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix
Township Rollers celebrating their goal during the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix
Amir Kamal Suliman of EL Merreikh and Tshepo Motlhabankwa of Township Rollers during the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix
Edwin Overlie of Township Rollers during the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix
Soualio Dabila Ouattara of Hilal evades tackle from Serge Pascal Wawa of Merreikh during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between El Merreikh and El Hilal in Sudan on 30 June 2017 ©BackpagePix
Abednego Kofi Tetteh of Hilal evades tackle from Amir Kamal Suliman of Merreikh during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between El Merreikh and El Hilal in Sudan on 30 June 2017 ©BackpagePix
Abednego Kofi Tetteh of Hilal evades tackle from Amir Kamal Suliman of Merreikh during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between El Merreikh and El Hilal in Sudan on 30 June 2017 ©BackpagePix
Abednego Kofi Tetteh of Hilal evades tackle from Amir Kamal Suliman of Merreikh during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between El Merreikh and El Hilal in Sudan on 30 June 2017 ©BackpagePix
Mohamed Ahmed Bashir of Hilal tackled by Amir Kamal Suliman of Merreikh during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between El Merreikh and El Hilal in Sudan on 30 June 2017 ©BackpagePix
Nazar Hamid Nassir of Hilal during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between El Merreikh and El Hilal in Sudan on 30 June 2017 ©BackpagePix
Yousif Ali Mohamed Ibrahim of Hilal during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between El Merreikh and El Hilal in Sudan on 30 June 2017 ©BackpagePix
Yosef of Hilal (l) challenged by Cleitchy Osonwa during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between Hilal and Merreikh in Omdurman on 13 May 2017 ©Tayeb Afarah/BackpagePix
Nizar of Hilal (r) during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between Hilal and Merreikh in Omdurman on 13 May 2017 ©Tayeb Afarah/BackpagePix
Mudather El Tahir of Hilal (l) during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between Hilal and Merreikh in Omdurman on 13 May 2017 ©Tayeb Afarah/BackpagePix
Shaiboub of Hilal (l) and Wawa Baskal of Merreikh (r) during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between Hilal and Merreikh in Omdurman on 13 May 2017 ©Tayeb Afarah/BackpagePix
Abednego Tetteh of Hilal during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between match between Hilal and Merreikh in Omdurman on 13 May 2017 ©Tayeb Afarah/BackpagePix
Mudather El Tahir of Hilal during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between match between Hilal and Merreikh in Omdurman on 13 May 2017 ©Tayeb Afarah/BackpagePix
Mudather El Tahir of Hilal during the 2017 CAF Champions League football match between match between Hilal and Merreikh in Omdurman on 13 May 2017 ©Tayeb Afarah/BackpagePix