CAF Champions League: Zamalek becomes first team to qualify

Five-time African champions, Zamalek SC became the first team to qualify for the group stages of the CAF Champions League, after a 4-0 drubbing of Kenyan champions Tusker FC ,at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt.

The home victory took their aggregate score to 5-0, having won the first leg 1-0 in Nairobi, last Saturday. Youssef Obama Fayed scored a brace for the White Knights as they dominated the Kenyan side, who now drop into the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup play-off round. The hosts were 2-0 up after just 20 minutes with Obama and Seifeddine Jaziri scoring.

Obama opened the scoring after 11 minutes when he headed into an empty net after Tusker keeper Patrick Matasi failed in his bid to pluck out a freekick from the right. Seven minutes later, they were 2-0 up after Jaziri nodded the ball home past Matasi, after the home side took possession in the midfield, quickly playing the ball out wide for an inviting cross into the box. Zamalek were comfortable with the lead and controlled the game all round with the visitors only chasing. Tusker had a chance on the stroke of halftime off a Deogratius Ojok freekick but he frittered the chance as he curled his shot straight to the keeper.

The Kenyans came back better in the second half, starting on a bright note with the introduction of John Njuguna breathing life into the attack. But, Zamalek were in crisp control and within two minutes, with 15 minutes left of the game, had stamped their authority in the game with two quick goals. Goalkeeper Patrick Matasi erred again, after his effort coming off the line to clear the ball faltered as he was beaten by Ahmed Mostafa "Zizo", who crossed for Achraf Bencharki to tap home.

A minute later, Zizo provided a cross from the left which was once again tapped home by an unmarked Obama at the back post