Zamalek kicked off their CAF Confederation Cup campaign with a crucial 1-0 victory over Kenya’s Police FC in the first leg of the second preliminary round, held in Nairobi this Saturday.
Veteran winger Abdallah El-Saied delivered the decisive blow for Zamalek with a stunning long-range strike just a minute before halftime, sealing the win for the Cairo giants. The 2023-2024 CAF Confederation Cup champions set the tone early, applying relentless pressure on Police FC from the start to secure a crucial first-leg victory and ease the burden ahead of the return leg in Cairo next Friday.
“The most important thing for us was to win and meet our objective,” Zamalek coach Gomes said after the match.
Despite their efforts, hosts Police FC of Kenya struggled to find a breakthrough, unable to crack Zamalek’s rock-solid defense.
Despite bolstering the squad with key summer signings, Zamalek coach Jose Gomes stuck to a familiar lineup, blending in young talents in place of some seasoned stars.
“We’re stronger than last season, thanks to the extra time we’ve had to gel and prepare for the upcoming tournaments,” said the Portuguese tactician.
On the other side, Kenya’s Police FC missed a golden opportunity to equalize, squandering a crucial chance just 15 minutes before the final whistle, leaving their hopes dashed.
Police FC advanced to this stage after a gritty 1-0 aggregate win over Ethiopia Coffee SC.
