Preview: Zamalek poised to clinch Conf Cup quarterfinal berth against Black Bulls

Mahmoud Elassal , Saturday 11 Jan 2025

Reigning CAF Confederation Cup champions Zamalek are determined to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the secondary continental tournament when they face Mozambique's Black Bulls in the fifth round of the group stage on Sunday.

Zamalek
File Photo: Zamalek Midfielder Nabil Emad vies for the ball during the match with Black bulls. Photo courtesy of Zamalek Facebook page.

 

Leading Group D with eight points, Zamalek hold a three-point advantage over Masry, currently in second place.

Black Bulls are placed third in the group with four points, while Nigeria's Enyimba trails at the bottom with an equal tally after four rounds of play.

Swiss tactician Christian Gross, at the helm of Zamalek, anticipates a tough battle against Black Bulls but remains optimistic about his team's chances of securing a victory on matchday.

However, the team faces uncertainties as defensive duo fullback Ahmed Fatouh and left-back Mahmoud Bentayg are questionable for the upcoming fixture.

Fatouh, 26, suffered a muscular injury during Thursday's 2-0 triumph over Abu Qir Fertilizers in the Egypt Cup. Similarly, Bentayg, 25, was sidelined due to a shoulder injury during the match.

"Fatouh and Bentayg are doubtful for the Black Bulls game. We still have 24 hours to go, and one of them might become available. Our defender Omar Gaber could be the best replacement, especially given his prior experience in the same position," Gross said in the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Gross, 69, emphasized the need for his team to enhance their attacking prowess, stating, "We sometimes struggle in terms of our attacking play, and there are minor details contributing to this issue. We are putting in the effort to deliver a more potent attacking football in the future."

Securing a victory on Sunday would see Zamalek through to the competition's quarterfinals.

Black Bulls' coach, Johnny Custodio, acknowledged the challenge ahead for his team but is hopeful of a positive outcome against Zamalek to keep their quarterfinal aspirations alive.

"We are well aware of the tough task at hand, but we are aiming for a favorable result," Custodio expressed.

Black Bulls suffered a 2-0 defeat in the away fixture against Zamalek in the initial group stage encounter in November 2024.

"We will leverage our home advantage and the support of our fans against Zamalek to showcase a strong performance and potentially exceed expectations," he added.

"While we hold respect for Zamalek's players, we do not fear them. It is essential that we believe in our ability to secure a positive outcome," Custodio emphasized.

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