Zamalek star Nasser Mansi prioritizes Egyptian League triumph over CAF Confederation Cup

Zamalek forward Nasser Mansi has underlined the significance of winning the domestic league title, insisting it holds greater value than continental success following a landmark season for his outfit.

The Cairo-based outfit secured their 15th Egyptian Premier League crown after a hard-fought campaign, marking their first league triumph since the 2022/2023 season and completing a memorable domestic resurgence.

Speaking in an interview with ON Sport, Mansi reflected on the emotional and physical demands of the season, while also addressing the team’s disappointment in the Confederation Cup final loss to Algeria’s USM Alger.

The forward revealed that there was frustration within the squad after that setback, particularly from senior players.

“Abdullah El-Said was angry after the USM Alger match because of the loss in the Confederation Cup,” Mansi said.

However, he emphasized that the team quickly shifted focus and maintained belief in their ability to secure the league title.

“I felt like winning the league title three weeks ago and I told the players that,” he added.

Mansi admitted that the campaign was one of the most demanding of his career due to the congested fixture schedule, which tested the squad’s physical and mental endurance.

“This season has been the most difficult for me because of the tight schedule of matches, so God blessed us with the league title,” he explained.

He also highlighted the importance of leadership within the dressing room, noting how senior players motivated the squad during key moments of the season.

“We were feeling extremely fatigued before the Ceramica Cleopatra match, but the team leaders told us that we had to win and secure the championship,” he said.

Despite Zamalek’s continental disappointment, Mansi made a clear statement about priorities, stressing that consistency over a full league season is more valuable than knockout competition success.

“For me, the league championship is more important than the Confederation Cup, because it is very long, the competition is fierce, and the points difference was close,” he stated.

The striker also identified one match as the standout performance of his campaign, describing it as his personal highlight of the season.

“The Egyptian match was the best for me this season,” he noted, without elaborating further on the specific fixture.

Mansi admitted that Zamalek’s performance against rivals Al Ahly SC remained a puzzling moment for the squad.

“I don’t know what happened in the Al Ahly match for us to appear at this level,” he said.

The Zamalek forward also spoke warmly about his teammates and close friends within the Egyptian football scene, highlighting strong bonds across rival clubs.

“I’m closest with Imam Ashour, as well as Mohamed Abdel Monem, Ahmed Fattouh, and Mostafa Mohamed,” he revealed.

In a lighter moment, Mansi also praised several standout figures in the Egyptian league, naming his personal picks for the best players and coach of the season.

He concluded the campaign with eight goals in 35 appearances, playing an important role in Zamalek’s title-winning run under coach Moataz Gamal.

Zamalek’s league triumph also marked a historic milestone for Egyptian football, as Moataz Gamal became the 12th coach in the club’s history to win the domestic league title and one of the few Egyptian managers to achieve the feat.

For Mansi, however, the message remains clear: while continental silverware is prestigious, sustaining excellence across an entire league season represents the ultimate measure of success.