Ahmed Abdel Raouf praises Zamalek players and dismisses claims of selfishness

Zamalek coach Ahmed Abdel Raouf has applauded the club’s fans for their heartfelt tribute to the late legend Mohamed Sabry during the team’s Confederation Cup match against Zesco United.

The emotional ceremony highlighted strong bonds between players, fans, and club heritage.

Zamalek secured a hard-fought 1-0 win on Sunday, their first points in the group stage, with Sifeddine Jaziri scoring the decisive goal and cementing his status as the club’s top foreign scorer. Despite a dip in second-half performance, Abdel Raouf was satisfied, though he acknowledged the need to address tactical issues and individual player management.

In a press conference, Abdel Raouf denied there was selfishness among the squad and explained key substitutions were made to protect the fitness of returning players. He emphasized the necessity to work collectively and added, “There’s simply no time to fix every error one-on-one.”

Zamalek faced additional challenges as injuries forced adjustments and missing players created gaps, particularly on the left wing. Yet the coach praised the group’s resilience, stating, “In these conditions, we must keep Zamalek’s character in mind.” The team’s hard-won victory and unity in adversity signal optimism for the squad’s progress in upcoming fixtures, even as physical and tactical tests remain straightforward.