Zamalek, Olympic with the advantage

Egyptian heavyweights Zamalek and Moroccan upstarts Olympic Safi hold the advantage heading into their CAF Confederation Cup semifinal, second-leg matches against CR Belouizdad and USM Alger respectively.

Zamalek will host CRB at the Cairo International Stadium on the evening of Friday 17 April (6pm CAT), while Olympic will welcome USMA to the El Massira Stadium on Sunday night, 19 April (9pm CAT).

FORM

The first-leg clash between CR Belouizdad and Zamalek in Algiers last Friday ended in a 1-0 away win for the White Knights, thanks to a first-half strike from Brazilian winger Juan Alvina.

Bringing a lead and an away goal to the home leg in Cairo makes the two-time Confed Cup champions the clear favourites, but the Reds showed enough attacking prowess in the first meeting to give them hope of a surprise at the Egyptian national stadium, and a pathway into their first CAF club final.

Unheralded Olympic Safi secured a goalless stalemate away to USM Alger at Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers last Saturday, giving them a slight edge heading into the return game in Western Morocco. However, the 2022-23 Confed Cup winners are now the only team in the tie which can benefit from the away goals rule, meaning a score draw would be enough to see them advance.

Safi will also be without the suspended goalkeeper Hamza Akbi Hamiani, who was sent off in the first leg in Algiers.

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

Zamalek coach Moatemed Gamal:

“Zamalek has finished the first half of the confrontation, and there is the second and more important half in Egypt [the return leg], and we hope for success and for the team to qualify for the final match. The return match will be difficult, and Belouizdad is a team that plays modern football, and their presence in the semifinal was not by chance. The result is deceptive, and Zamalek has not secured qualification, and the team players are focused on securing it in the [return leg].”

CR Belouizdad interim coach Salim Seba:

“I have been with CR Belouizdad for seven years and whenever the club needs me I will answer the call. We played a good match and created several scoring opportunities, but we wasted them. That’s football. We lost the first leg, but God willing, we will turn the tie around in Egypt and win. We will prepare well for the return match.”

Olympic Safi winger Salaheddine Errahouli:

“We do not want to waste this opportunity. The Moroccan public and the Safi fans in particular support us. We have a difficult path ahead, we have nothing left, and we will fight to make them happy.”

USM Alger winger Ahmed Khaldi:

“Thank God we did not concede a goal against Olympique Safi, because it is difficult to concede a goal at home, as this makes the task more difficult away, especially since it was the first leg. Everyone saw that we had a legitimate penalty kick, and this will increase our determination to achieve a positive result in Morocco and qualify for the final, God willing.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Zamalek – Ahmed Fatouh

A hard-running left-back or wingback, Ahmed Fatouh drives much of Zamalek’s play down the left flank and will be an influential figure in the second-leg on Friday evening. The 28-year-old is looking to win his second Confed Cup title with the White Knights.

CR Belouizdad – Salim Boukhanchouche

A veteran midfielder, Salim Boukhanchouche was one of the Reds’ best players in the first leg, controlling the engine room and laying the platform for the home team to create several good chances which they failed to capitalise on.

Olympic Safi – Imad Khannouss

Veteran centre-forward Imad Khannouss has been a key figure for Safi throughout the Confed Cup, though a return of just one goal does not reflect his contribution. The 33-year-old will hope to find the back of the net and help his club reach a first-ever CAF club final.

USM Alger – Ahmed Khaldi

The winger was USMA’s most expressive and effective attacker in the first leg, and even though the match ended in a stalemate he will have gained confidence from the trouble he caused Safi’s defence.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

In head-to-head terms, Zamalek and CR Belouizdad have met in three previous matches, with the Reds boasting two wins compared to one for the White Knights.

Safi and USMA have also met in three previous matches, with the Algerian side boasting the only win, as two other clashes ended in 0-0 draws.