Clutch finish sends Zamalek to CAF Confederation Cup semis
22 March 2026
Clutch finish sends Zamalek to CAF Confederation Cup semis
In a dramatic second leg at Cairo Stadium, Zamalek defeated AS Otoho Congo 2-1 to advance 3-2 on aggregate to the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals.
The first leg in Congo had ended 1-1, leaving the Egyptian giants with a slim cushion to defend in front of their home crowd.
Hossam Abdel Megid rose to head in from a precise Abdullah Al-Saeed corner in the 17th minute, giving Zamalek the early lead they would stubbornly defend for the rest of the night.
Moments later, Adi al-Dibagh followed up a rebound to double the advantage in the 24th minute, as the ball bounced back off the keeper after a powerful strike.
Yet the visitors struck back late, Mafongo firing a fierce shot from outside the box in the 83rd minute, reigniting the tension inside the Cairo stadium.
The drama intensified when a late flashpoint led to a red card for Zamalek's goalkeeper after a VAR check, forcing Seif Jaziri to stand between the posts as chances dwindled.
In the end, Zamalek stood firm and advanced to face Shabab Belouizdad of Algeria in the semi-finals, continuing Egypt's CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
A result that felt earned, with nerves jangling until the final whistle.
Punchline: If football had an editing room, this match would be a blockbuster—every twist, every shout, and every VAR moment wearing the referee's headset.
Punchline 2: Zamalek's fans now know that suspense is best served hot—preferably with a win and a chorus of chants that would scare the neighborhood pigeons.
