Zamalek vs Africa Sports | Match preview
Cairo giants Zamalek will face a difficult encounter when they entertain Cote D’Ivoire champions Africa Sports on the Military Academy stadium this Sunday, in an Orange CAF Champions League 1/16 round first leg fixture. Both teams qualified via the preliminary round, though the game is highly rated as it features two big names in African football.
it’s going to be a tough one. Africa Sports is a big name in the continent and this is an exciting encounter. But we’re focused and determined to win. We will do our best to take a comfortable lead before we go to Abidjan for the return leg. This is a must win for us. -Coach Ismail Youssef told CAF Online
Africa Sports are not concerned about ongoing political instability in Egypt as they prepare to face Zamalek in Cairo, the Ivorian outfit’s vice president, Sehi Gaspard, said Saturday.
They take on Zamalek at the Military Academy Stadium on Sunday in the first leg of the African Champions League Round 32.
The match will be played behind closed doors as Zamalek serve the second of a two-match crowd ban imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following fan riots that ruined their game against Tunisia’s Club Africain last year.
The Egyptian Premier League was called off earlier this month in the wake of the Port Said disaster that left at least 74 fans dead in football violence. The tragedy occurred when thousands of Masry supporters invaded the pitch to confront Ahly’s visiting contingent, sparking deadly clashes.
“I had no concerns at all regarding that. We came to Egypt for football and not for politics,” Gaspard told CAF Online
“We found a very warm welcome (in Cairo) and everyone has been so friendly with us. This is not strange because we’ve always loved Egypt and its people, and every time we’re here we find this warm hospitality.
“Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt are like brothers and we came here for our friendship.”
Gaspard also heaped praise on Zamalek, who won the last of their five Champions League titles in 2002.
“Zamalek is a great team with some very big and well known names like Ahmed Hossam Mido and Amr Zaki. It’s going to be a difficult game, but we have the right to fight and win,” he added.
Zamalek vs Africa Sports match will be live on www.NileSports.TV
Time & Date: Sunday March 25th 2012, 17:00 (EET) Cairo/Egypt Time)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDg7zNJ55m4[/youtube]
