Preview: First real test for Carteron as Zamalek face Angola's Primero de Agosto

Ahram Online , Friday 6 Dec 2019

Zamalek are seeking to make up for a disappointing start to their African Champions League group-stage campaign as they host Angola's Primero de Agosto

Zamalek
Zamalek beat Sharqeya 3-1 in Carteron's debut (Photo: Al-Ahram)

Zamalek's new boss Patrice Carteron will face his first real challenge after taking over when the team play Angola's Primero de Agosto on Saturday at Cairo's Al-Salam stadium in their second group-stage game of the African Champions League.

The Frenchman's debut saw Zamalek easily beat third-division side Sharqeya 3-1 in the Egypt Cup last Wednesday but he will encounter a much tougher opposition in Primero de Agosto.

Carteron is no stranger to Africa's elite club competition, having guided TP Mazembe to the coveted title in 2015 before steering Zamalek's Cairo nemesis Ahly to a place in the final in 2018.

DR Congo giants Mazembe were the ones who prompted Zamalek's board to sack Carteron's predecessor Milutin "Micho" Sredojevic, crushing the White Knights 3-0 in their opening Group A game.

Zamalek will now hope Carteron can turn around their fortunes.

The 49-year-old told a news conference that the game against Primero de Agosto would be "very tough" but that he is determined to win all home games to ensure Zamalek would progress to the quarters.

He also said he doesn't have the luxury to make tactical changes because of the limited time he had but that he is working on improving the physical condition of the players.

Zamalek have also had to deal with dressing-room problems, which reached a peak last week when Tunisian right-back Hamdi Nagguez unilaterally terminated his contract after complaining that he had not received his dues for months.

Agosto, who lead the Angolan league with 30 points after 12 matches, have a point in Group A after playing out a draw with Zambia's ZESCO United in their opening game.

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