Zamalek have expressed satisfaction after reaching the last 16 of the African Champions League.

The Egyptian side drew nil-nil with AS Vita Club of DR Congo on Saturday and went through 1-0 on aggregate.

Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed, Ahmed Samir and Mahmoud Fathallah insisted they had learned a lesson from the match.

"We must secure bigger wins in the first legs in order to have easier matches in the second legs. We were under pressure against Vita," the players were quoted as saying on the club's official website.

Club chairman Mamdouh Abbass said the team would receive special rewards for the qualification.

"It was a solid performance. The team was more than responsible and played like men," assistant coach Osama Nabih said. "Opposition fans made their players tougher but we played to win and we gained the draw."

Striker Ahmed Gaafar expressed his respect for manager Jorvan Vieira's decision to leave him on the bench until the final minutes of the match.

"It doesn't matter how long I played. The important thing is the satisfying victory that all the players participated in," Gaafar said.

Title-holders Ahly are playing Kenyan Tuskar at home on Sunday after they won 2-1 in the first leg.

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