Zamalek begin African Champions League campaign with win over AS Port

Zamalek made a winning return to the CAF Champions League after a three-year absence, beating Djibouti’s AS Port 2-1 in the first leg of their preliminary-round tie.

Mohamed Shehata and Chico Banza scored for the Egyptian side, while Mehdi Hussein pulled one back for AS Port.

The match was Zamalek’s first in the competition since their final group-stage fixture against Sudanese club Al-Merrikh in the 2023 edition. Supporters marked the occasion by displaying a banner reading, “Return of the most dangerous club in Africa”, echoing the title of Egyptian actor Fouad El-Mohandes’ film The Return of the Most Dangerous Man in the World.

Shehata gave Zamalek the lead after only six minutes. Chico Banza delivered a cross into the six-yard area and Shehata struck a powerful effort beyond the goalkeeper.

AS Port’s goalkeeper then denied Adam Kaied from inside the penalty area in the 20th minute. Two minutes later, Hossam Ashraf’s shot was also saved before hitting the post.

Zamalek continued to create openings, although Banza missed a clear chance in the 30th minute. After rounding the goalkeeper, he moved towards the right and ended up too far from the goal to finish.

The visitors doubled their advantage in the 37th minute when Banza headed home from a corner.

Abdullah El Said replaced Kaied at the start of the second half. Zamalek made two further changes in the 58th minute, with the Dabbagh and Nasser Mansi coming on for Hossam Ashraf and Isho.

Mansi was denied by the AS Port goalkeeper two minutes later, while the Dabbagh saw another effort saved with difficulty three minutes afterwards.

Mansi then missed a strong opportunity to score a third in the 72nd minute, attempting to finish with his heel but failing to make proper contact as the ball travelled too quickly.

AS Port reduced the deficit when Mehdi Hassan capitalised on an inaccurate pass from Ahmed Khodary. The goal gave the Djibouti side renewed hope, but Zamalek held on to take a narrow advantage into the second leg, which will also be played in Cairo.

The winner of the tie will face the winner of the meeting between Congolese side Eagles and Rwanda’s APR in the round of 32.

Shehata’s goal was Zamalek’s first in the CAF Champions League for three years. The club’s previous goal in the competition had come against Al-Merrikh on 31 March 2023.

Banza’s strike was also the first scored by a foreign Zamalek player in the tournament since Tunisia forward Seifeddine Jaziri found the net against Esperance in the 2023 edition.