Live : AC Leopards vs Zamalek | CAF Confederation Cup
A reshuffled Zamalek side will be eyeing a place at the African Confederation Cup semis when they meet Congo’s Leopards with a depleted 16-man squad away from home on Sunday.
Having just dispensed with nine members of their league title-winning side, Zamalek found themselves flying to Dolisie with just 16 first-team players – a setback that was also exacerbated by further absences.
Keeper Ahmed El-Shennawi was kept in Cairo, with fear of the Congolese fans’ reactions following his collision with striker Rudi Ndey – who as a result sustained a career-threatening spinal injury during their meeting a fortnight ago – cited as a reason behind his omission.
Midfield wizard Ayman Hefni, anchorman Ibrahim Salah and Ahmed Tawfik were ruled out due to automatic suspension and center-half Islam Gamal due to injury.
Yet despite registering six new arrivals in their African roster, Zamalek still had to omit some summer signings from the Congo trip – with Basel loanee Ahmed Hamoudi and Egypt international Ahmed Hassan Mekki left out due to lack of fitness.
But the other four newly-recruited men could still be handed their Confederation Cup debut, as ex-Luzern forward Mahmoud ‘Kahraba’, summer-returnee Mohamed Ibrahim, striker Mohamed Salem and full-back Mohamed Adel Gomaa were all included.
