ZESCO United face Zamalek SC on 8 February at 13:00 (GMT) in a continental group-stage clash that could shape the qualification picture for the knockout rounds.
ZESCO United enter the match with inconsistent form, recording LWWDL in their last five games, and needing a strong home result to stay competitive in the group. Zamalek SC arrive in far better shape, unbeaten in five with a WWWDD sequence that underlines their growing defensive solidity and attacking clarity.
ZESCO United’s home campaign has been erratic. They have registered 2 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses on their own ground this season, with their biggest home victory a commanding 5-0 success. That result showed the side’s capacity to overwhelm visiting opponents when their attacking play clicks. However, the same venue has also seen their heaviest home defeat, a 2-3 reverse that exposed defensive gaps and late-game concentration issues.
Away from home, ZESCO United’s story has been even more challenging. Their biggest away loss, a 2-0 defeat, highlighted their difficulty in turning possession into chances and points on the road. The team has also endured one match this season in which they failed to score, a reminder that their attacking threat can fluctuate sharply between games.
Zamalek SC travel with one of the strongest away profiles in the competition. They are unbeaten on their travels, posting 4 wins, 2 draws and 0 losses in away fixtures this season. They have produced their biggest winning score gap on the road with an emphatic 0-6 victory, underlining their capacity to dominate and kill off matches early when they find rhythm in the final third.
Zamalek’s defensive numbers support their current form. The team has kept clean sheets in 4 matches this season, reflecting a compact structure, strong organisation and disciplined midfield screening. Their biggest home winning margin has been 1-0, showing that while they can win ugly and edge tight games at their own stadium, they often open up and play with more freedom and verticality away from home, as suggested by that 0-6 away scoreline.
ZESCO United’s attacking record this season has been undermined by inconsistency rather than total bluntness. They have failed to score in 1 match, which suggests that, in general, they do find the net but can suffer when opponents press intensely or restrict service into their forwards. Their 5-0 home win remains the benchmark performance: direct, clinical and relentless, indicating what is possible when their front line is supported well from midfield and wide areas.
In contrast, Zamalek’s main strength lies in their stability. An unbeaten away record of 4 wins and 2 draws shows they know how to manage game states, protect a lead and remain compact when required. Their WWWDD recent run demonstrates a side that can both string wins together and also grind out draws when they are not at their best. Those back-to-back draws suggest rivals have started to find ways to slow them down, but not yet beat them.
The league and group context adds pressure for ZESCO United, who cannot afford to drop many more home points if they are to compete for a top-two finish. Home games are usually decisive in such group-stage league formats, and their current home record of 2 wins from 8 is below the level expected from a side with ambitions to progress. A victory over an in-form Zamalek would significantly alter their standing and momentum.
Zamalek’s position closer to the top of the group or league system is built on that robust away portfolio and a defensive structure that concedes few clear chances. Their 4 clean sheets reflect not only individual quality at the back but also disciplined team shape. Forward players work from the front, while full-backs and holding midfielders keep lines tight, allowing the side to absorb pressure and then counter with pace.
ZESCO United’s defensive data, including that 2-3 home defeat and 2-0 away loss, hint at vulnerability to rapid counter-attacks and set-piece situations. Conceding three at home in a single match will be a concern against a Zamalek side known for efficiency from wide deliveries and quick combinations around the box. ZESCO will need sharper concentration in defensive transitions and more compact spacing between centre-backs and full-backs.
Attacking efficiency will be central to the hosts’ hopes. ZESCO have shown at their best, in the 5-0 home win, that early goals can transform their approach and the atmosphere. If they score first, their pressing intensity tends to rise, and opponents are pushed deeper. Against Zamalek, a fast start could be vital, as chasing the game against an organised defence that is comfortable protecting a lead will be significantly harder.
Zamalek’s away statistics suggest they are comfortable on different types of pitches and in varied environments, a trait that often separates genuine contenders in a league or group setting. Their 0-6 away win demonstrates both ruthlessness and the ability to maintain high standards across 90 minutes, not simply over short bursts. Once they establish control, they rarely relax, continuing to push for additional goals while keeping their defensive base intact.
For ZESCO, the tactical challenge will be balancing urgent attacking intent with defensive safety. Overcommitting forward could leave them exposed to the type of transitions that produced Zamalek’s biggest away victory. Yet a cautious approach risks inviting pressure and limiting their own strengths, which are built around assertive home performances and crowd-driven tempo.
The recent form lines underline the contrast. ZESCO’s LWWDL run shows peaks and troughs: they respond to setbacks with strong performances but struggle to maintain that standard consistently. Zamalek’s WWWDD trajectory signals steady accumulation of points, with a slight dip from wins to draws, but no sign of collapse or defensive unravelling. In a league-table context, that difference is often the margin between mid-table uncertainty and a serious push for top positions.
Squad mentality may also prove decisive. ZESCO’s players know they must improve their home record of 2 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses if they are to climb the table. That poor home return places pressure on this fixture, as dropping more points would deepen their reliance on difficult away games later in the campaign. Zamalek, by contrast, approach the match with the confidence generated by 4 away wins and 2 draws, as well as multiple clean sheets.
Set-pieces could provide ZESCO with a route into the match. Teams looking to overturn form and table position often lean on corners and free-kicks in tight contests. With Zamalek’s defence well-drilled in open play, dead-ball situations might offer some of the best opportunities for the home side to test the visiting goalkeeper and disrupt a usually settled back line.
Zamalek will likely trust the framework that has delivered their unbeaten away run. A compact midfield, measured pressing and sharp counters can frustrate a ZESCO side that needs territory and rhythm to be effective. If the visitors can slow the tempo and drag the match into a controlled pattern, their track record suggests they can either nick a narrow win, similar to their 1-0 home margins, or, if chances open up, accelerate towards a more emphatic scoreline akin to the 0-6 away triumph.
The stakes in this contest extend beyond the immediate three points. In a league-style group format, head-to-head results between potential qualification rivals often act as tie-breakers and psychological markers. A strong ZESCO performance would reassert their status as a dangerous home side despite the 2-3 and 2-0 defeats on their record. A positive result for Zamalek would reinforce their reputation as one of the most reliable travelling teams in the competition.
Supporters will look to see whether ZESCO can rediscover the intensity and cutting edge that produced their 5-0 home win, while tightening the defensive lapses that led to their heaviest defeats. Observers will also monitor whether Zamalek can extend their away run of 4 wins and 2 draws while adding another clean sheet to an already impressive tally of 4 shut-outs this season.
The match at 13:00 (GMT) on 8 February will therefore test ZESCO United’s capacity to respond under pressure at home and Zamalek SC’s ability to maintain a high-level away standard deep into a demanding league-style campaign.
The key statistics of the players of both teams this season:
- Assists: (ZESCO United) — 0 assists, (Zamalek SC) — 0 assists.
- Goalkeepers saves: (ZESCO United) — 0, (Zamalek SC) — 0
- Tackles: None (ZESCO United) — None, None (Zamalek SC) — None.
- Most encounters won: (ZESCO United) — 0, (Zamalek SC) — 0.
- Yellow cards: None (ZESCO United) — None, None (Zamalek SC) — None.
- Red cards: None (ZESCO United) — None, None (Zamalek SC) — None.
Top 5 scorers this season:
- Z. Draoui (2, USM Alger)
- A. Belhocini (2, CR Belouizdad)
- P. Nzaou (2, Otôho d’Oyo)
- S. Jaziri (2, Zamalek SC)
- Rayane Anane (2, ES Sahel)
Team statistics:
The five previous matches played by the teams:
- ZESCO United — LWWDL
- Zamalek SC — WWWDD
According to home statistics this season, ZESCO United scores more goals and concedes more in the following intervals:
| Intervals | Goal Scored, % | Goals conceded, % |
| 0-15 | 25.00% | 33.33% |
| 16-30 | 8.33% | 25.00% |
| 31-45 | 25.00% | 16.67% |
| 46-60 | 25.00% | 8.33% |
| 61-75 | 16.67% | 16.67% |
| 76-90 | ||
| 91-105 |
Zamalek SC has the following time frames of scoring and conceding goals:
| Intervals | Goal Scored, % | Goals conceded, % |
| 0-15 | 8.33% | 100.00% |
| 16-30 | 16.67% | |
| 31-45 | 33.33% | |
| 46-60 | 16.67% | |
| 61-75 | 25.00% | |
| 76-90 | ||
| 91-105 |
Head-to-head stats:
| Teams | Games | Win | Draws | Losses | |||
| H | A | H | A | H | A | ||
| ZESCO United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Zamalek SC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Probabilities before the match:
| ZESCO United | Zamalek SC | |
| 19.7% | Winning the game | 19.7% |
| 38% | Attack potential | 38% |
| 22% | Potential in defense | 22% |
| 13% | Strength against each other | 13% |
| 20% | Goal Potential | 20% |
Summary: the probability of Zamalek SC winning – 50%, draw – 50%, loss – 0. Thus ZESCO United, most likely, loss (loss or draw)
Goal Forecast:ZESCO United, is likely to score -1.5 goals, Zamalek SC is likely to score no more than -4.5.
The bookmaker odds for this match:
| Home win | Draw | Away win |
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
Save the date
The match between the teams ZESCO United and Zamalek SC will take place on February 08 at 13:00 (GMT) at the stadium .
