Zamalek, the Egyptian powerhouse, battled to a hard-fought goalless draw against South African outfit Stellenbosch on Wednesday in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals.
The result sets the stage for a thrilling decider next week in Cairo, where a spot in the semi-finals is up for grabs.
The visitors showcased a rock-solid defense, frustrating Stellenbosch’s attacks while nearly stealing the win themselves. Goalkeeper Mohamed Awad was the star of the show, pulling off crucial saves to keep the South Africans at bay. Zamalek had their chances, though Nasser Mansi came agonizingly close with a clever header that rattled the post after a fine stop by the Stellenbosch keeper. Later, an inviting cross from Omar Gaber found Mansi again, but Mahmoud Gehad’s intervention snuffed out the opportunity.
Zizo injected pace late on, pushing for a breakthrough, while Mostafa Shalaby limped off injured in the dying moments, replaced by Nasser Maher.
With the tie finely poised, Zamalek now shifts focus to their upcoming League Cup clash against Modern Sports FC on April 6th.
