Match Preview: Esperance v Zamalek | CAF Champions League
Esperance, who won the latest two editions of the African Champions League, were defeated twice by Zamalek in the last three weeks with the same result, 3-1. The first game was the African Super Cup which took place in Qatar.
Zamalek’s deep-lying forward Youssef “Obama” will be available for Friday’s vital African Champions League.
A minor knee complaint ruled Obama out of the quarter-final first-leg against the Tunisian side, which Zamalek won 3-1 to edge close to a place in the Champions League last four.
Although he has only scored two goals in 22 appearances in all competitions so far this term, Obama has been one of Zamalek‘s key players, providing eight assists.
He is likely to reclaim his starting berth in the return leg in Rades, with Moroccan winger Mohamed Ounajem expected to start on the bench despite scoring a screamer in the first leg.
Zamalek will have to do without the versatile Abdallah Gomaa though due to injury.
Gomaa, who came on as a late substitute in the first leg, was Zamalek’s regular left-back last season. Although he proved one of the team’s stars last year, he is largely confined to the bench this term after some nagging injury problems took their toll on him.
The veteran Mohamed Abdel-Shafi is now the preferred choice as a left-back for Zamalek’s French coach Patrice Carteron.
Central defender Mohamed Abdel-Ghani, who has recently lost his place to Mahmoud El-Wensh, is also unavailable through injury.
Tunisian reports revealed on Wednesday that the Ministry of Health in Tunisia has recommended that Zamalek and ES Tunis play their CAF Champions League quarter-final second leg fixture behind closed doors due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
The CAF Champions League holders are set to host Zamalek in the second leg of the quarter-final on Friday, March 6.
On Monday, Tunisia’s government had confirmed the first infected coronavirus case in the Arab country.
The Interior Ministry in Tunisia will allow 60,0 fans to attend the match as it deployed 8,0 personnel to secure the encounter.
According to the above-mentioned reports, the Health Ministry recommends playing the game behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak.
