LIVE: Zesco United v Zamalek | CAF Champions League | DEC 28th, 2019

Zamalek’s struggles in the Egyptian Premier League gives an added importance to their African Champions League campaign as they face Zambia’s Zesco United away from home in their third Group A game on Saturday.

With the White Knights losing realistic hopes of competing for the league title, having fallen nine points behind leaders Ahly, who also have a game in hand, they can now turn their attention to another major piece of silverware — the Champions League.

Zamalek, who have not won Africa’s premier club competition since lifting the last of their five trophies in 2002, kicked off their group stage campaign with an embarrassing 3-0 loss at DR Congo’s TP Mazembe, which led to the sacking of former manager Micho.

The Serbian’s successor, Frenchman Patrice Carteron, presided over a convincing 2-0 home victory over Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto in the second match, which lifted them to second place.

However, Zamalek endured a three-match winless run in the Egyptian league, putting early pressure on Carteron, a Champions League winner with Mazembe in 2015 who also led Ahly to a place in the final in 2018.

LIVE: Zesco United v Zamalek | CAF Champions League | DEC 28th, 2019

FT: Zamalek 1-1 Zesco