Rwandan Army coach says Zamalek defeats could inspire revival or expose mental weakness

Rwandan Army coach Abdourahim Taleb has welcomed Zamalek to Kigali but warned that the Egyptian side’s recent defeats could either fuel a strong response or reveal a lack of mental strength.

Zamalek face Rwandan Army on Friday in the first leg of the CAF Champions League round of 32.

“We welcome our Egyptian brothers to Kigali,” Taleb told FilGoal.com. “I believe Zamalek’s two defeats in the Egypt Capital Cup and the league could produce different reactions against Rwandan Army.

“They could provide strong motivation to make amends, or they could expose mental weakness.”

Zamalek were beaten 3-0 by ZED in the cup before losing 2-0 to Al Ahly in the league. The two results mean they have conceded five goals without scoring in their past two matches, although Taleb believes they still demonstrated tactical presence on the pitch.

“Mentally, Zamalek’s players will try to erase the memory of those disappointing results and prove their worth, so we expect to face a highly motivated team,” he said.

“From a tactical perspective, Zamalek may seek to show that their recent results were only a temporary setback, and that they remain a big club with a distinguished history, an established tactical identity and extensive experience in African competitions.”

Taleb said his team respected their opponents but remained confident they could alter the balance in their favour.

“We respect this historic club, but we trust our ability to change things in our favour,” he added.

He also called on his players to approach the match with confidence and discipline as they seek an advantage before the return fixture in Cairo.

“We must play with confidence, ambition and discipline, without tension, and make the most of the supporters’ backing in order to achieve a positive result before the second leg in Cairo,” Taleb said.

“Facing Zamalek is a great honour and a valuable experience for us, and it also fits perfectly with the club’s project.”

Zamalek reached the round of 32 after beating Arta Solar of Djibouti 6-1 on aggregate. They won the first leg 2-1 and completed a 4-0 victory in the second leg, with both matches played in Cairo.

Rwandan Army secured their place in the same round by defeating Congolese side Eagles 3-1 on aggregate.

The second leg will take place on Saturday, 24 October, at Cairo International Stadium.