CAF Confederation Cup
End of the road as Enyimba crumble 3-1 at Zamalek
Enyimba have ended their continental campaign this season after losing 3-1 to Confederation Cup defending champions, Zamalek of Egypt in Cairo.
The hope of getting into the quarter-finals vanished following the loss and the victory of the other Egyptian side in Group D, Al-Masry who also beat Mozambique’s Black Bulls by 3-1.
Enyimba ended their group stage campaign with six points to place third.
The two Egyptian sides, Zamalek and Al-Masry advanced with 14 and nine points respectively.
Enyimba could not capitalise on a depleted Zamalek who played without seven of their regular players.
Despite not having much at stake having qualified before the match and having to step down their potential strength, Zamalek opened the match with ferocity in search of an early goal.
Enyimba relied mainly on defensive security and resorting to counterattacks.
Zamalek’s first chance came in the 10th minute, but Mohamed Atef’s shot from outside the penalty area was saved by the Enyimba’s goalkeeper.
Then followed another attack in the 14th- minute as Mustafa Shalaby fired a powerful shot that went next to the left post of Enyimba’s goal.
Al-Jaziri almost put Zamalek ahead in the 22nd minute with a header, but the ball went past the right post of the visitors’ goal.
In the 29th minute, Mostafa Shalaby succeeded in scoring the opening goal for Zamalek after receiving a cross from Zizo and meeting it with a direct header to the right of the goalkeeper.
Tunisian Seif Jaziri wasted a clear opportunity for the Whites in the 31st minute with a header that went next to the right post of the Nigerian team’s goalkeeper, before Jaziri wasted another opportunity in the 36th minute with a header.
Enyimba players resorted to shooting from outside the penalty area to hit Zamalek’s defence.
At the beginning of the second half, Zamalek intensified attempts and Seif El-Jaziri succeeded in scoring the second goal in the 48th minute after he took advantage of a mistake by the Enyimba goalkeeper, took the ball from him and shot it into the empty goal.
Mohamed Sobhi shone in the 54th minute, blocking a powerful shot from outside Zamalek’s penalty area.
In the 57th minute, Ifeanyi Ihemekwele scored Enyimba’s goal with a shot from inside Zamalek’s penalty area.
In the 88th minute, Seif El Jaziri scored Zamalek’s third goal with an individual effort after he dribbled past Enyimba’s defence line and shot the ball into an empty net.
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Moroccan side, Renaissance Sportive de Berkane secured a third continental title after drawing against Tanzania’s Simba Sports Club (2-0 in the first leg, 1-1 in the return).
Moroccan football’s representatives had the privilege of being the first to lift the new CAF trophy.
It is the fifth time they have played the final match of the competition, and they were successful in 2020 and 2022. In the return leg of the final match this Sunday, Berkane overcame challenges put in their way ahead of the match at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
The match got off to a flying start, with the hosts dominating, determined to open the scoring in the opening minutes of play. Once again, Berkane retreated into defence, a far cry from the spirit displayed in the first leg.
It took about fifteen minutes for Mouine Chaâbani’s men to truly get into the game.
While they launched their first dangerous attack, a missed opportunity in front of the opposing goal cost them dearly. On the ensuing counterattack, Simba’s Zambian striker, Joshua Mutale, beat goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi in the 17th minute.
The second half resumed with the same intensity, but the tension rose, especially after Simba attacking midfielder Yusuph Kagoma was sent off for a second yellow card.
Berkane then took a numerical advantage and regained control of the game.
Stung to the quick, the home side continued to engage in skirmishes, but without any real threat to goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi.
Yet, even with ten men down, Simba’s players gave the Berkanis a hard time, posing several threats.
Deliverance finally came in the 93rd minute thanks to Mamadou Lamine Camara, who scored the equaliser, in a closely contested duel, in a packed stadium, and under the eyes of Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF, as well as Walid Regragui, national coach.
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RS Berkane head coach Moine Chaabani says his side is fully focused and prepared for Sunday’s second leg of the Confederation Cup final against Tanzania’s Simba SC, as they seek to secure a third continental title.
The Moroccan club takes a 2-0 lead into the return leg at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar following an early double from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui in the first leg in Berkane.
Speaking ahead of the crucial clash, Chaabani emphasized that his players have left nothing to chance.
“We are focused on the match, and we must adapt to all circumstances, no matter how difficult,” he said during the pre-match press conference.
“We came here to play a 90-minute match, and there is no room for distraction.”
The Tunisian tactician, who led the team to last year’s final only to suffer defeat against Zamalek, underlined the hunger within the squad to go one step further this time.
“We have worked hard since that disappointment, and today we are even more determined to win the title and bring the cup back to Morocco.”
RS Berkane will be boosted by the availability of key players Haitham Manout and Paul Valery, although final decisions on their involvement will be made after the last training session.
“All players are present. The decision on their participation will depend on their readiness,” he added.
Chaabani also pointed to his side’s growing experience in navigating difficult African environments, saying they are mentally conditioned for the high-stakes occasion.
“We have a strong immune system to handle these conditions, and we will manage our physical effort according to the match’s progress,” he said.
“We hope to rise to the occasion and succeed in pleasing the Berkane fans, who always support us, to win the title.”
The return leg kicks off at 13:00 GMT on Sunday. A draw or even a narrow defeat by a one-goal margin will be enough for Berkane to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup trophy.
-CAF
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Following a 2-0 win for RS Berkane over Simba SC in the first leg of the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup Final in Berkane, Morocco, attention will turn to the return fixture on the island of Zanzibar this Sunday.
The match will be played at Amaan Stadium at 16h00 local time (13h00 GMT) and will be live across all CAF’s broadcast partners, including Azam Media, beIN Sport, Canal+, SuperSport, SABC and several other global platforms.
RS Berkane go to the second leg with the advantage after early goals from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui at home, but Simba SC have shown plenty of fighting spirit already this campaign and will be confident of overturning the deficit.
The winners of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup will be awarded a new trophy that will be unveiled later this week.
CAF and host club Simba SC are working closely together to ensure that the event in Zanzibar is a success.
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