Today, October 23, marks the anniversary of the match between Zamalek and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of the 2016 CAF Champions League final. The White Knights managed to secure a single goal victory, scored by Nigerian Stanley Ohawuchi in the 62nd minute at Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria. However, this goal was not enough to compensate for the 3-0 defeat in the first leg, which dashed Zamalek's hopes of winning the continental title that had eluded them since 2002.
This anniversary carries painful memories for Zamalek fans, as the team came close to reclaiming the African title but faced the obstacle of the goal difference established by Sundowns in the first leg. Despite their victory in the return match, Zamalek could not change the course of the tie against the South African side, making this encounter one of the significant moments in Zamalek's continental history.
First Leg Defeat Complicated Zamalek's Task in the Final
Zamalek suffered a heavy defeat, losing 3-0 to Sundowns in the first leg in South Africa. Liberian Anthony Laffor opened the scoring for the hosts in the 31st minute, followed by a second goal from Thapelo Morena nine minutes later, capitalizing on a cross that Zamalek goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy mishandled, allowing the ball to slip into the net.
As the second half began, Zamalek's task became even more complicated when defender Islam Gamal scored an own goal, giving Sundowns a significant advantage before the return leg and presenting Zamalek with a daunting challenge that required an extraordinary attacking response to overcome the deficit.
In the second leg, Zamalek fought to hold onto their chance until the final moments, and Stanley Ohawuchi succeeded in scoring the winning goal in the 62nd minute, igniting hopes among the White Knights' fans for a comeback. However, the score remained unchanged until the final whistle, allowing the South African team to secure the title on aggregate.
