Chico Banza ends Zamalek’s Champions League scoring wait against AS Port

Chico Banza scored Zamalek’s second goal against Djibouti side AS Port in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary-round tie.

The Angolan forward headed home in the 37th minute after Zamalek won a corner, giving the Egyptian club a second goal in the match. Mohamed Shehata had scored the opening goal.

Banza’s goal also ended a three-year wait for Zamalek to score in the CAF Champions League. The club’s previous goal in the competition came on 31 March 2023, when Nasser منسي scored against Sudanese side Al-Merrikh in a match Zamalek won 4-3.

Nasser منسي scored a hat-trick in that game, which remained Zamalek’s most recent Champions League fixture in which they found the net until Banza struck against AS Port.

The goal made Banza the first foreign player to score for Zamalek in the CAF Champions League since Tunisia international Seifeddine Jaziri scored against Esperance in the 2023 edition.

Banza, who is Angolan, scored three goals and provided two assists in 33 matches throughout last season. He has made a stronger statistical contribution in the current campaign, scoring twice and setting up another goal in four appearances.

Zamalek had been absent from the CAF Champions League since their match against Al-Merrikh in March 2023. The club returned to the competition after winning the Egyptian Premier League title last season.

The tie against AS Port represents Zamalek’s return to Africa’s leading club competition, with the Egyptian side beginning their campaign in the preliminary round. The second goal from Banza gave them an important early advantage in the first leg and marked a significant moment for the club after their lengthy scoring drought in the tournament.