CAIRO - Egyptian giants Al-Ahly and Zamalek had mixed fortunes in their first-leg matches in the round of 32 of the African Champions League (ACL). Al-Ahly drew 0-0 against Ethiopian Coffee in Addis Ababa, while Zamalek snatched a 1-0 win over Africa Sports of Côte d'Ivoire in Cairo. The other member of the Egyptian trio engaged in African competitions, Petroleum Enppi, were held to a 1-1 draw by Lydia Academic of Burundi in Burundi, in the first leg of the African Confederation Cup round of 32. Egypt's Zamalek grab useful win Ismail Youssef, the White Knights' general coach, said he was satisfied with his side's win over Africa Sports, stressing that the second leg in Abidjan will be like the second half of the match. "Winning is good, especially given the current circumstances for Egyptian football and the inability of the teams to play friendlies," said Youssef after the game. Zamalek, five-time African champions, beat Africa Sports 1-0 behind closed doors at the Military Stadium, thanks to a goal from Benin striker Razak Omotoyossi. "I am confident that the team will do well in the second leg too," he stressed, explaining that the coaching staff are busy trying to arrange two friendlies in preparation for the ACL return leg. The White Knights' recent friendlies were cancelled for security reasons, based on an Interior Ministry decision. But the team played a secret friendly last Tuesday with Haras el-Hedoud, defeating them 3-2. The second leg against the West African outfit will take place on April 8 in the Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. The White Knights qualified for the round 32 of the ACL after beating the Young Africans of Tanzania 1-0 in the round of 64 in the second leg, thanks to a header by striker Ahmed Hossam 'Mido'. For Zamalek, the Africa Sports game was the second and last match played behind closed doors due to a CAF penalty imposed on the White Knights last season, after their fans rioted during the ACL match against the Tunisia Africa club, at the Cairo International Stadium. Osama Nabih, Zamalek assistant coach, said that the game against Africa Sports was difficult, but the team did well in these circumstances and in the absence of their fans. “The team from Abidjan are well organised, with talented coaching staff and many great young players. We mustn't underestimate them,” he warned.
Egypt's Enppi: Happy with an away point
Hossam el-Badri, the Enppi technical coach, has also expressed his satisfaction with his team's drawing against Burundi's Lydia Academic in the first leg of the African Confederation Cup round of 32 on Saturday in Burundi. The coaching staff are satisfied with the way the team played and with grabbing one point," el-Badri said after the game. Thanks to a blunder by Enppi's goalkeeper Ali Lotfi, Lydia Academic of Burundi went ahead, but an equaliser from midfielder Adel Moustafa saved the day for the Petroleum team.
