Suspended Nasser Mansi attends Zamalek’s CAF Champions League tie against Rwandan Army

Nasser Mansi was at Cairo International Stadium to support Zamalek during their CAF Champions League match against Rwandan Army, despite being suspended by the club’s technical staff.

Zamalek are hosting Rwandan Army in the second leg of the second preliminary round, having taken a 1-0 lead from the first meeting in Kigali.

Mansi scored the only goal in last Friday’s first leg at Amahoro Stadium before being suspended. His decision to attend the return fixture was intended to support the players and coaching staff.

Zamalek announced that the striker had been referred for an investigation and barred from first-team group training.

“Moataz Gamal, Zamalek’s head coach, has decided to refer Nasser Mansi, the team’s striker, for investigation and suspend him from group training until the investigation is completed,” the club said in an official statement.

“The player will undergo the investigation after the team’s delegation returns from Rwanda tomorrow, Sunday, following the match against Rwandan Army in the CAF Champions League.”

The statement added: “Abdel Nasser Mohamed, the football director, will submit a memorandum to Zamalek’s legal affairs department regarding the Nasser Mansi incident, in preparation for investigating the player. A decision on when he can return to group training will be made in light of the findings of the investigation.”

Mansi was also fined heavily by Abdel Nasser Mohamed after his conduct following the goal in the first leg.

The striker apologised to head coach Moataz Gamal, football director Abdel Nasser Mohamed and his team-mates during dinner after the match. He accepted the punishment and confirmed that in a video recorded shortly after the game, having been informed of the amount of the fine.

Mansi later issued another apology through his personal Instagram account.

Zamalek need either a win or a draw in the second leg, scheduled for 24 October, to secure their place in the CAF Champions League group stage.