CAF Confederation Cup
Already-qualified Zamalek eye extending unbeaten Confederation Cup run against Enyimba
Defending champions Zamalek will look to cap off their CAF Confederation Cup group stage campaign with a victory when they face Nigeria’s Enyimba at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday.
Zamalek aim to maintain their unbeaten streak in the competition.
The Cairo giants have already secured their place in the quarterfinals, topping Group D with 11 points from an impressive five-match unbeaten run (three wins and two draws), scoring eight goals and conceding just three.
Zamalek head into the match on the back of a commanding 3-1 victory over Mozambique’s Black Bulls last Sunday, with young striker Hossam Ashraf netting his first-ever continental brace and star playmaker Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed adding a third.
Despite sealing their qualification, Zamalek’s Swiss coach, Christian Gross, has stressed that his team remain fully focused on securing a win against Enyimba, underlining the importance of maintaining momentum in continental competitions.
“Our goal is to win every match, and we know tomorrow’s opponent will not be easy. Continental matches are always important, and we must approach them with the right mentality,” Gross said during the pre-match press conference.
“Finding the balance between defense and attack is one of the most challenging aspects of football, and it requires a lot of work. We are addressing our shortcomings and striving to improve,” he added.
Zamalek will be without several key players who sustained injuries, including Abdallah El-Said, Nasser Maher, Mahmoud ‘El-Wensh’ Hamdi, Ahmed Hamdi, and Mohamed Hamdi.
However, Gross sees an opportunity to give other players a chance to shine.
“We still have 24 hours to prepare, and I’m monitoring the condition of the injured players. There may be some adjustments to the formation during the match, but I’m confident in the focus and readiness of every player involved,” the 70-year-old coach said.
He added, “As for the next round, our focus is solely on tomorrow’s match. We’ll be ready for any opponent in the quarterfinals.”
Meanwhile, Enyimba face a must-win situation to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
The Nigerian side currently sit third in Group D with five points. They are one point behind second-placed Masry, who are expected to push for the final qualification spot when they face bottom-placed Black Bulls simultaneously.
Enyimba’s mission is clear: only a victory will give them a chance to progress, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash against the group leaders.
Zamalek, however, will be determined to continue their dominant form and head confidently into the knockout stages.
-Ahram
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Moroccan side, Renaissance Sportive de Berkane secured a third continental title after drawing against Tanzania’s Simba Sports Club (2-0 in the first leg, 1-1 in the return).
Moroccan football’s representatives had the privilege of being the first to lift the new CAF trophy.
It is the fifth time they have played the final match of the competition, and they were successful in 2020 and 2022. In the return leg of the final match this Sunday, Berkane overcame challenges put in their way ahead of the match at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
The match got off to a flying start, with the hosts dominating, determined to open the scoring in the opening minutes of play. Once again, Berkane retreated into defence, a far cry from the spirit displayed in the first leg.
It took about fifteen minutes for Mouine Chaâbani’s men to truly get into the game.
While they launched their first dangerous attack, a missed opportunity in front of the opposing goal cost them dearly. On the ensuing counterattack, Simba’s Zambian striker, Joshua Mutale, beat goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi in the 17th minute.
The second half resumed with the same intensity, but the tension rose, especially after Simba attacking midfielder Yusuph Kagoma was sent off for a second yellow card.
Berkane then took a numerical advantage and regained control of the game.
Stung to the quick, the home side continued to engage in skirmishes, but without any real threat to goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi.
Yet, even with ten men down, Simba’s players gave the Berkanis a hard time, posing several threats.
Deliverance finally came in the 93rd minute thanks to Mamadou Lamine Camara, who scored the equaliser, in a closely contested duel, in a packed stadium, and under the eyes of Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF, as well as Walid Regragui, national coach.
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RS Berkane head coach Moine Chaabani says his side is fully focused and prepared for Sunday’s second leg of the Confederation Cup final against Tanzania’s Simba SC, as they seek to secure a third continental title.
The Moroccan club takes a 2-0 lead into the return leg at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar following an early double from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui in the first leg in Berkane.
Speaking ahead of the crucial clash, Chaabani emphasized that his players have left nothing to chance.
“We are focused on the match, and we must adapt to all circumstances, no matter how difficult,” he said during the pre-match press conference.
“We came here to play a 90-minute match, and there is no room for distraction.”
The Tunisian tactician, who led the team to last year’s final only to suffer defeat against Zamalek, underlined the hunger within the squad to go one step further this time.
“We have worked hard since that disappointment, and today we are even more determined to win the title and bring the cup back to Morocco.”
RS Berkane will be boosted by the availability of key players Haitham Manout and Paul Valery, although final decisions on their involvement will be made after the last training session.
“All players are present. The decision on their participation will depend on their readiness,” he added.
Chaabani also pointed to his side’s growing experience in navigating difficult African environments, saying they are mentally conditioned for the high-stakes occasion.
“We have a strong immune system to handle these conditions, and we will manage our physical effort according to the match’s progress,” he said.
“We hope to rise to the occasion and succeed in pleasing the Berkane fans, who always support us, to win the title.”
The return leg kicks off at 13:00 GMT on Sunday. A draw or even a narrow defeat by a one-goal margin will be enough for Berkane to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup trophy.
-CAF
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Following a 2-0 win for RS Berkane over Simba SC in the first leg of the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup Final in Berkane, Morocco, attention will turn to the return fixture on the island of Zanzibar this Sunday.
The match will be played at Amaan Stadium at 16h00 local time (13h00 GMT) and will be live across all CAF’s broadcast partners, including Azam Media, beIN Sport, Canal+, SuperSport, SABC and several other global platforms.
RS Berkane go to the second leg with the advantage after early goals from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui at home, but Simba SC have shown plenty of fighting spirit already this campaign and will be confident of overturning the deficit.
The winners of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup will be awarded a new trophy that will be unveiled later this week.
CAF and host club Simba SC are working closely together to ensure that the event in Zanzibar is a success.
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