CAIRO — Zamalek booked their place in the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup Sunday night after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Congo’s Otoho, surviving a tough clash in Cairo to progress 3-2 on aggregate.
The Egyptian side looked to be cruising after racing into a two-goal lead early on, but a late goal, a red card, and an extraordinary finish — which saw striker Seifeddine Jaziri forced into goal — turned the match into a tense battle for survival.
In the end, Zamalek held firm under pressure to secure their place in the last four, where they will face Algeria’s CR Belouizdad, cafonline.com reported.
Backed by a lively home crowd at Cairo International Stadium, Zamalek started with intent and quickly imposed themselves on the contest.
Their breakthrough came in the 16th minute when Hossam Abdel-Maguid rose highest to meet a well-delivered corner from Abdullah El-Said, powering a header past the goalkeeper.
Just minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage. Oday Dabbagh reacted quickest inside the penalty area after El-Said’s initial effort was parried, calmly finishing the rebound to give Zamalek a commanding lead on the night.
With momentum firmly on their side, Zamalek continued to threaten, coming close to a third goal before the break as efforts struck the woodwork in quick succession.
Despite their dominance, Zamalek were unable to extend their lead further, leaving the tie still within reach for the visitors.
Otoho, largely contained in the first half, showed glimpses of danger on the counterattack but struggled to break down a well-organised Zamalek defence.
As the second half unfolded, the tempo slowed slightly, with Zamalek appearing in control as they managed possession and limited clear opportunities for the Congolese side.
The match took a dramatic turn in the closing stages.
In the 83rd minute, Otoho reignited the contest when Grace Mavungo unleashed a powerful strike from distance that flew past the goalkeeper, reducing the deficit and injecting tension into the stadium.
Moments later, the situation escalated further.
Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi was shown a straight red card following an altercation with an Otoho player, leaving the hosts with ten men and no recognised goalkeeper on the pitch.
With all substitutions already used, forward Seifeddine Jaziri was forced to don the gloves, creating an extraordinary scenario in the dying minutes of a high-stakes continental tie.
Sensing an opportunity, Otoho pushed forward relentlessly in search of a second goal that would have changed the outcome of the tie.
The visitors launched a series of attacks, attempting long-range efforts and crosses into the penalty area, testing Zamalek’s makeshift defensive setup.
Jaziri, now guarding the goal, was protected by a determined defensive effort as Zamalek players threw themselves into challenges and blocked attempts to preserve their advantage.
Seven minutes of added time felt like an eternity for the home supporters, but Zamalek managed to withstand the pressure and see out the match.
The final whistle sparked relief and celebration among the Zamalek players and fans, confirming their progression to the semi-finals.
