Zamalek and Al Masry, representing Egyptian football in the CAF Confederation Cup, face two difficult matches in the fifth round of the group stage.

The two competing teams in Group Four will play the day after tomorrow, on Sunday. Zamalek will visit Zesco United in Zambia, while Al Masry heads to South Africa to face Kaizer Chiefs.

Absences Hit Zamalek Before Facing Zesco

Colds have struck the Zamalek ranks, leading to the absence of several key players who did not travel to Zambia.

It was stated that playmaker Abdullah Al-Saeed is at the top of the list of absentees for the match.

It was added: “Abdullah Al-Saeed is suffering from a cold and a high temperature, which prompted the technical staff to exclude him from the traveling squad for the match.”

It was continued: “Brazilian Juan Pereira will be absent from the squad due to a foot injury he is suffering from, which caused him to miss the league match against Ismaily.”

It was revealed that Angolan Chico Banza and Tunisian Seifeddine Jaziri continue to be absent due to colds, while Omar Gaber also continues his absence due to a knee injury.

Zamalek leads the Group Four standings with eight points, one point ahead of Al Masry and Kaizer Chiefs.

A win for Zamalek against Zesco, who are in last place with no points, will guarantee their qualification for the quarter-finals, but any other result could complicate their position in the group.

Al Masry Faces a Tough Challenge Against Kaizer Chiefs

Al Masry will face a tough challenge against Kaizer Chiefs, needing at least a draw to keep their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals alive.

Zamalek

Zamalek is an affluent residential district located on Gezira Island in the Nile River, central Cairo. Historically, it was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries during the era of Khedive Ismail, with many of its elegant villas and tree-lined streets reflecting its past as an exclusive enclave for foreign diplomats and the Egyptian elite. Today, it is known for its cultural venues like the Cairo Opera House, art galleries, upscale cafes, and tranquil atmosphere amidst the bustling city.

Al Masry

“Al Masry” is not a specific, widely recognized historical or cultural site. In Arabic, it translates to “The Egyptian,” and it is commonly used as a name for Egyptian sports clubs (like Al Ahly, whose full name is **Al-Nadi Al-Ahly Al-Masry**), businesses, or media outlets. Therefore, it does not refer to a single place with a unified history, but rather to a general Egyptian identity or institutions bearing that name.

CAF Confederation Cup

The CAF Confederation Cup is the second-tier annual continental club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), first launched in 2004. It primarily features clubs that win their domestic cup competitions or finish as runners-up in their national leagues, serving as Africa’s equivalent to the UEFA Europa League. The tournament was created from a merger of the CAF Cup and the African Cup Winners’ Cup, establishing a unified competition for clubs just below the continent’s elite Champions League level.

Zesco United

Zesco United is a professional football club based in Ndola, Zambia, founded in 1974 by employees of the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO). It is one of the country’s most successful clubs, having won multiple Zambian Super League titles and domestic cups. The club has a strong history of developing local talent and has regularly competed in continental tournaments like the CAF Champions League.

Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs is a famous South African professional football club based in Johannesburg, founded in 1970 by former player Kaizer Motaung. It is one of the country’s most successful and popular teams, with a rich history of winning numerous domestic league and cup titles. The club is a major cultural institution, with its passionate fan base, known as the “Amakhosi,” forming a central part of South African sporting identity.

Ismaily

Ismaily is a city in northeastern Egypt, founded in 1863 during the construction of the Suez Canal. It served as the headquarters for the Suez Canal Company and is named after Khedive Ismail Pasha, the ruler of Egypt and Sudan at the time. The city is known for its distinctive European-style architecture and its location along the freshwater Canal, which separates it from the main Suez Canal.

Zambia

Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa known for its vast wilderness areas and the spectacular Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls. Historically, the region was home to ancient Bantu-speaking peoples and later became a British protectorate called Northern Rhodesia before gaining independence in 1964. Its culture is deeply rooted in traditional ceremonies, music, and the legacy of its diverse ethnic groups.

South Africa

South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent, renowned for its diverse landscapes, wildlife, and multicultural society often described as the “Rainbow Nation.” Its modern history is profoundly shaped by colonialism and the apartheid era, a system of institutionalized racial segregation that ended in 1994 with the election of Nelson Mandela, ushering in a new democratic era. The country is home to significant cultural and historical sites, including Robben Island, the Cradle of Humankind (a UNESCO World Heritage site for its fossil evidence of human evolution), and numerous national parks like Kruger.