Zamalek claimed continental glory on Sunday night by lifting the CAF Confederation Cup after a dramatic second leg final against RS Berkane in Egypt. Trailing 1–0 from the first leg in Morocco, the Cairo giants managed to level the tie with a narrow 1–0 victory in regulation time before sealing the trophy in a tense penalty shootout, which they won 5–3.
The atmosphere at the stadium reflected the importance of the occasion. Zamalek knew they had no margin for error after their defeat in Berkane and approached the match with clear attacking intent. From the opening minutes, the Egyptian side pressed high, circulated the ball quickly, and tried to pin the Moroccan visitors back in their own half. RS Berkane, for their part, arrived determined to protect their slender advantage, relying on compact defending and quick counterattacks to relieve the pressure.
Despite Zamalek’s territorial dominance, clear-cut chances were initially hard to come by. Berkane remained well organized, closing spaces between the lines and forcing the home side into long-range efforts or crosses that their defense managed to deal with. The first half passed without a goal, increasing the tension in the stands and the urgency on the pitch.
The breakthrough finally came in the second half, and fittingly, it was from the penalty spot. After a period of sustained pressure, a handball by Naji inside the RS Berkane penalty area was spotted by the referee, who pointed immediately to the spot. Mahmoud Alaa, Zamalek’s central defender and regular penalty taker, stepped up with the weight of the final on his shoulders. Showing great composure, he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and calmly slotted the ball home, giving Zamalek the 1–0 lead they needed to draw level on aggregate.
The goal transformed the match. With the overall score now tied, Berkane were forced to come out of their defensive shell, while Zamalek looked to control the tempo and search for a second goal that would have decided the tie outright. Chances appeared at both ends as fatigue set in and spaces opened up. Berkane pushed forward in search of a decisive away goal, but Zamalek’s back line held firm, repelling crosses and blocking shots. At the other end, the hosts came close to doubling their lead on several occasions, only to be denied by last-ditch defending and alert goalkeeping.
When the final whistle blew at the end of regulation time, the score remained 1–0, sending the final to a penalty shootout. The stadium held its breath as the players gathered at the center circle and the goalkeepers prepared for the decisive moments.
In the shootout, Zamalek showed remarkable nerve. Their first five takers converted their attempts with confidence, placing their shots beyond the reach of the Berkane goalkeeper. The Moroccans, under immense pressure, saw two of their penalties fail to find the net, whether through saves or misses, allowing Zamalek to take control of the series. When the final Berkane effort was unsuccessful, Zamalek were confirmed winners by a 5–3 margin on penalties.
As the last kick was settled, scenes of jubilation erupted among the players, staff, and supporters. After overturning the first-leg deficit and surviving a nerve-shredding shootout, Zamalek were crowned CAF Confederation Cup champions, adding a new continental trophy to their illustrious history and rewarding their fans with a memorable European night.
