Live: Enyimba v Zamalek | African Champions League
Match Info:
Match K.O at 17:00 Cairo local time | 11:00 ET Canada | USA
Startring lineups:
Zamalek: Ahmed El-Shennawi, Hazem Emam, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Dwidar, Hamada Tolba, Tarek Hamed, Ahmed Tawfik, Maarouf Yusuf, Mohamed Ibrahim, Mahmoud ‘Kahraba’
Venue: Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium (Port Harcourt)
Referee: L. Ould Ali
Zamalek are yearning for the days when they were usual challengers in the upper echelons of African football as they kick off their African Champions League group-stage campaign.
The five-time winners, who are only three titles behind record holders and Cairo rivals Ahly, have not reached the semi-final of Africa’s premier club competition since 2005, three years after clinching their last trophy.
Zamalek will miss key defender Mohamed Koffi against Enyimba due to disciplinary reasons, with the Burkinabe angry over alleged late payment. Playmaker Ayman Hefni and winger Ahmed Hamoudi are also out through injuries.
But Zamalek still have an embarrassment of riches in midfield, with their skilful wingers capable of finishing off breakaways in away matches. However, Enyimba are confident they can claim all three points.
“We have never faced Zamalek before but we are ready for this game. This is not our first time in this competition and we are quite prepared,” Enyimba chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu was quoted as saying by Supersport.com.
“The good news is that there are no injury worries for us so that is a big advantage for us. We will win, I am sure,” he said.
Enyimba won back-to-back Champions League titles in 2003 and 2004 but have not advanced past the group stage since 2011.
Live: Enyimba v Zamalek | African Champions League
Match K.O at 17:00 Cairo local time | 11:00 ET Canada | USA
