Zamalek loses to Zesco and Al-Masry falls to Kaizer Chiefs in the Confederation Cup
The fifth round of the group stage in the African Confederation Cup witnessed a tough day for Egyptian football, as the two poles of Group D, Zamalek and Al-Masry Al-Portsaidi, suffered two defeats away from home, which ignited the competition and postponed the decision on qualification cards to the final decisive round.
The fall of the White Knight in Zambia
In a hard-fought and closely contested match, Zamalek's first football team lost to their Zambian hosts, Zesco United, by a single goal in a game played this afternoon, Sunday. The only goal of the match came a penalty kick, expertly and powerfully placed to the left of Zamalek's goalkeeper, Mahdi Suleiman , who, despite his efforts, was unable to save it.
This loss places additional pressure on the coaching staff and players, as Zamalek is always expected to compete for continental titles. Historically, Zamalek faces challenges playing in Zambian conditions characterized by humidity and intense fan pressure, but the fans' hopes remain pinned on the team's ability to turn things around in crucial matches.
Al-Masry Al-Portsaidi loses the Johannesburg bet
In the same group, Al-Masry of Port Said fared no better than their Egyptian counterparts, suffering a 2-1 defeat against South African powerhouse Kaizer Chiefs. Flavio da Silva the scoring for the home side in the 39th minute, before Cuenca their lead in the 60th minute.
Despite falling behind, Al Masry displayed their characteristic fighting spirit, with star player Abdelrahim Daghmoum scoring their only goal in the 57th minute. However, this wasn't enough to secure a positive result in South Africa. This result highlights the increasing competitiveness of African tournaments recently and the rising level of clubs from southern Africa, who have become a real challenge for North African clubs.
Group standings and decisive scenarios
With these exciting results, the balance of power in Group D has shifted dramatically. Kaizer Chiefs to the top with 10 points, capitalizing on the stumbles of their rivals. Zamalek to second place, remaining on 8 points, while Al Masry into third with 7 points. Zesco United, despite their morale-boosting victory today, languishes at the bottom of the group with 3 points.
The final round: To be or not to be
The sixth and final round has become a lifeline and a decisive stage for Egyptian football representatives. Zamalek desperately needs a win against league leaders Kaizer Chiefs to guarantee qualification and potentially reclaim the top spot, while Al-Masry has no option but to defeat Zesco and hope for slip-ups from their rivals, or risk getting bogged down in complex points calculations. Egyptian fans are eagerly anticipating these crucial matches to ensure Egypt's continued strong presence in the knockout stages of the continental tournament.
