Preview: Zamalek face easy face-off with Tusker to secure Champions League group stage spot

Ahram Online , Thursday 21 Oct 2021

Egyptian Premier League champions Zamalek have an easy match ahead of them, as they are scheduled to take on Tusker of Kenya at home on Friday, less than a week after securing a 1-0 away win in the African Champions League second preliminary round.

Zamalek vs Tusker
Zamalek player Shikabala in action during the match with Tusker on Friday 16 October, 2021. Photo courtesy of Zamalek Facebook page.

Moroccan winger Ashraf Bencharki scored the away goal last Saturday and Zamalek now only need a draw at Borg Al-Arab Stadium in Alexandria to reach the group stage.

 

“We played with a lot of fear in the first leg, and we couldn’t stick to our game. We will try to correct that and hopefully we can score some goals,” Tusker coach Robert Matano told the CAF’s website.

 

“I know it is possible. The game is not over yet and we will give our all in the coming game. We have seen them, and we now know what to do to contain them. We will work on a good game plan, and I believe we will produce results.”

 

The Whites are at full strength, with all players available for French coach Patrice Carteron except returning Mostafa Fathi and Mohamed Ounajem, who are not yet registered in the squad but will be available starting from the next round.

 

“We have put the first leg’s results behind us. We have the advantage, but we are fully focused on getting a win tomorrow,” Carteron said during a press conference on Thursday.

 

“We need to improve in front of the goal; we could have scored more goals in the first game. However, we are in the beginning of the season and the players will be at their best soon,” he concluded.

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