Injury blow for Zamalek as Omar Gaber set to miss Confederation Cup final second leg

Zamalek captain Omar Gaber is expected to miss the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final against USM Alger due to injury.

According to reports, the experienced defender has not fully recovered from the hamstring injury he sustained during Zamalek’s league clash against ENPPI SC. The injury already ruled him out of league matches against Smouha as well as the first leg of the Confederation Cup final in Algeria.

Gaber’s likely absence comes as another setback for Zamalek ahead of Saturday’s decisive showdown in Cairo, where the Egyptian giants will attempt to overturn a 1-0 first-leg defeat suffered in Algiers.

The White Knights, however, have received a timely boost with midfielder Mohamed El Sayed reportedly receiving medical clearance to return to action ahead of the final.

Zamalek were beaten in the first leg after a late strike from Ahmed Al-Khaldi handed USM Alger a narrow advantage heading into the return encounter.

The Cairo club will now rely on home support and experience as they seek to complete a comeback and lift the CAF Confederation Cup for a third time, having previously won the competition in 2019 and 2024.