CAF Confederation Cup: Zamalek to sanction goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi after being sent off against Otoho

Zamalek coach Moataz Gamal has confirmed that goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi will face disciplinary action following his red card in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals against Congolese side Otoho, while also clarifying that the club’s issues with Mohamed Awad have been resolved.

Speaking at a post-match press conference, Gamal stated: “There is a regulation, and it will be applied to Mohamed Sobhi. I will speak with him, and a penalty will certainly follow.”

The coach emphasized his impartial approach to selecting goalkeepers: “I don’t train any specific player to guard the goal unless circumstances demand it, and I don’t condone bad behavior. The decision to field Saif Al-Jaziri came from me. I asked the players capable of the role, and Saif was willing.”

Gamal elaborated on his tactical choices: “It was natural for Mahdi Suleiman to guide Saif when he moved into the goalkeeper position. We adjusted to reduce crosses, leaving only Adi in the penalty area, which meant just one or two balls reached Saif. That should have been our approach from the start to build a bigger lead.”

On Awad’s situation, the coach added: “The issue with Awad is over. His return is unrelated to Sobhi’s dismissal. The crisis ended the day before yesterday, but he couldn’t feature in today’s match. After the rest period and the international break, he will rejoin the team for upcoming fixtures.”

With this win, Zamalek now prepare for a high-stakes semifinal clash against Algerian side CR Belouizdad in the Confederation Cup.