ON Sport will broadcast the match between Zamalek and Djibouti's AS Port, which will take place at 8 PM today, Saturday, at Cairo International Stadium, as part of the second leg of the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. The White Knights aim to confirm their superiority and secure qualification to the second preliminary round.
ON Sport
Result of the first leg between Zamalek and the Djiboutian champion
Zamalek achieved a 2-1 victory over AS Port in the first leg held at Cairo Stadium, giving the White team a step towards the next round. However, the coaching staff, led by Moataz Gamal, is keen to remind the players of the importance of approaching the return match with complete seriousness and not giving the opponent any chance to come back into the game.
Zamalek's participation in the current edition of the CAF Champions League is of great significance, following the team's absence from continental competitions in the last three seasons, which provides the players and coaching staff with additional motivation to make a strong start in their return to the most important club competition in African football.
Moataz Gamal urged Zamalek players to temporarily close the file on the Egyptian Premier League matches and focus entirely on the clash with AS Port, emphasizing the necessity of winning and confirming qualification for the second preliminary round, while also stressing the importance of capitalizing on available chances in front of goal and not underestimating the opponent.
The head coach also warned the players against complacency or relying on the result of the first leg, confirming that qualification is not yet secured and that the team must concentrate and exert maximum effort from the start of the match until the final whistle.
Moataz Gamal discussed some technical and tactical aspects he aims to implement during the match with his players, and he provided specific instructions to several players regarding their roles on the field, aiming to achieve balance between defensive and offensive aspects and control the flow of the game.
Expected Zamalek lineup for tonight's match
Zamalek is expected to enter the match with a lineup that includes: Mohamed Awad in goal, Ahmed Fattouh, Mahmoud Hamdi El Wench, Mohamed Ismail, and Omar Gaber in defense, Ahmed Rabi, Mohamed Shahat, and Abdallah El Said in midfield, and Odi Al-Dabbagh, Hossam Ashraf, and Chico Banza in attack.
Zamalek will miss Amr Nasser due to a hamstring injury, while Tunisian Ahmed Jafali continues to stay away from matches due to incomplete fitness. Mohamed El Sayed is also sidelined due to injury, and the team will also be without the services of Saif Farouk Jafar, who has been excluded from the coaching staff's plans, in addition to Brazilian Juan Bezerra, who remains absent from the team amid the current crisis between the player and the club.
