Preview: Zamalek, Masry clash in CAF Confederation Cup showdown for quarterfinal spot

Mahmoud Elassal , Saturday 4 Jan 2025

Zamalek will face their compatriots Masry in the fourth round of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium on Sunday, with both teams eyeing the top spot in the group and a berth in the quarterfinals.

Zizo
Zamalek Forward Zizo in action during the match with Masry. Photo courtesy of Zamalek Facebook page.

 

The reigning Confederation Cup champions, Zamalek, currently lead Group D with seven points, holding a three-point advantage over Masry, who sit in second place.

In their previous encounter in mid-December 2024, Zamalek secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Masry in the tournament's third round.

Black Bulls from Mozambique are positioned third in the group with four points, while Nigeria's Enyimba trail at the bottom with just one point after three rounds of play.

Zamalek's Swiss coach, Christian Gross, anticipates a challenging match against Masry but remains confident in his team's ability to secure a victory on matchday.

"Facing a domestic rival makes the task difficult for both teams as they are well-acquainted with each other's tactics, which will make the game tough for Zamalek and Masry," Gross stated during the pre-match press conference.

Zamalek's key winger, Ahmed 'Zizo' Sayed, is facing uncertainty for the game due to a bout of flu. Gross acknowledged Zizo's professionalism and determination to participate but mentioned that a final decision on his availability would depend on his health evaluation.

"In my opinion, the match may be decided by a set piece given the similar performance levels of the two teams," Gross concluded.

On the Masry side, coach Ali Maher relies on his squad's strong performance, particularly forwards Mohamed El-Shami, Salah Mohsen, and Tunisian standout Fakhereedine Ben Youssef, to keep their hopes of qualification alive.

"We are accustomed to playing in such significant matches and we aim to secure a positive outcome against Zamalek," Maher expressed.

"We aspire to meet the expectations of Masry's supporters, as they consistently play a pivotal role in crucial encounters," added the Masry coach.

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