CAF Champions League: We’re here to win – Zamalek defender Omar Gaber warns Rwandan Army

Zamalek right-back Omar Gaber insists the Egyptian giants have learned valuable lessons from their Cairo derby defeat to Al Ahly as the club prepare to face Rwandan Army in the CAF Champions League.

The White Knights will travel to Kigali to face the Rwandan side in the first leg of the round of 32 on Friday, October 16, hoping to bounce back from their disappointing domestic result with a strong performance on the continental stage.

Al Ahly defeated Zamalek 2-0 at Cairo International Stadium last Sunday in the sixth round of the Egyptian Premier League, handing the White Knights a setback ahead of their African assignment.

However, Gaber believes the team have put the disappointment behind them and are fully focused on securing a positive result away from home.

“We are here to win. We respect the Rwandan Army, but Zamalek is a great team and has great ambitions in the African Champions League,” Gaber said in comments reported by Rwandan newspaper The New Times.

The experienced defender stressed the importance of the first-leg encounter, noting that Zamalek are determined to give themselves a strong advantage before the return fixture in Cairo.

“We know how important it is to come away with a positive result in the first leg, and we are fully focused on achieving that,” he added.

Gaber further explained that the defeat to Al Ahly had provided the team with lessons they intend to apply as they shift their attention to the continental competition.

“We learned from the Al Ahly match, and now we are focusing on facing the Rwandan Army. Every tournament is different from the other, and we are determined to show our character in Rwanda,” he stated.

The comments underline Zamalek’s determination to respond positively after losing one of Egyptian football’s biggest fixtures, with the club eager to avoid carrying their domestic disappointment into the African Champions League.

Zamalek advanced to the round of 32 after comfortably eliminating AS Port of Djibouti in the previous round. They secured a 2-1 victory in the first leg before recording a convincing 4-0 win in the return encounter.

Rwandan Army, meanwhile, will be looking to make home advantage count as they welcome the Egyptian giants to Kigali. Captain Djibril Ouattara has already insisted that his team respect Zamalek but are not afraid of their opponents, setting the stage for a competitive encounter.

The return leg is scheduled for October 24 at Cairo International Stadium, where Zamalek will hope to complete the job in front of their home supporters.

For Gaber and his teammates, the immediate objective is clear: deliver a disciplined performance in Rwanda, secure a favourable first-leg result and demonstrate that the lessons from the Al Ahly defeat can translate into a stronger response on the continental stage.