Injury Worries and Salary Showdowns: Zamalek's CAF Cup Night
24 November 2025
Injury Update and Club Statements
Zamalek's midfielder Nabil Emad Donja suffered a knee injury during the CAF Confederation Cup clash with ZESCO United. Doctors later clarified that the injury is a sprain of the medial collateral ligament, not an ACL tear, and he will begin a focused rehabilitation and conditioning program. Donja left the pitch visibly emotional, underscoring the anxiety surrounding his prognosis.
Team physicians confirmed that the scans and checks will determine the precise recovery timeline, and the club vowed to follow medical recommendations before any return to training or matches.
Salary Dispute and Club-Player Talks
Separately, the club acknowledged a formal warning from Salah Eddine Msaid regarding late payments. The matter is being handled through standard procedures, with the club aiming to settle dues to avoid further escalation.
In parallel, Msaid's case places the White Knights in a delicate financial position, especially as he is under contract through 2028 after arriving in the winter window from Morocco's Nahda El Zammara. The player has made 16 appearances for the club, totaling 1083 minutes, but is not a regular starter.
On-Field Highlights and Tributes
The match featured Seifeddine Jaziri's decisive strike, giving Zamalek a 1-0 win at Cairo Stadium and boosting his status as the club's foreign goalscorer with 48 goals, surpassing the previous record held by Ali Mohsen.
Before kickoff, tributes for the late Mohammed Sabri were paid, with players presenting shirts bearing his name and fans raising banners and chanting in his memory. Captain Omar Jaber led the gesture, and the crowd's response was a poignant reminder of the club's storied history.
Around the stands, former Zamalek stars joined in to support the team, and the atmosphere echoed with the familiar chant "We win with our blood and sweat."
The medical update and the tribute moments wrapped the night in a mix of concern, celebration, and nostalgia for a club that often wears its passion on its sleeve.
Punchline time: In football, knees have agents too—usually a better agent than the players’ contracts. And if money talked, footballers would have a bigger fan club than the locker room playlist.
