Zamalek secured their place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 CAF Confederation Cup after defeating Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in their final group stage match.
The match, played at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium, was a thrilling affair, with both teams squandering several chances, though Zamalek held a slight advantage, particularly in the early stages of the second half.
Juan Bezerra opened the scoring for Zamalek in the 53rd minute with a superb header, followed by Abdallah El Said’s second goal in the 71st minute with a powerful shot from inside the penalty area.
Macabi Lillipo pulled one back for Kaizer Chiefs in the 75th minute, setting up a tense final quarter of an hour.
Zamalek desperately needed the win, as a draw coupled with Al Masry’s victory (which they achieved) against ZESCO would have meant an early exit for the White Knights from the African competition.
Ultimately, Zamalek qualified as group winners with 11 points, and will be joined by Al Masry, who finished with 10 points thanks to their superior head-to-head record against Kaizer Chiefs.
The quarter-final draw is scheduled for next week, though CAF has yet to officially announce the date. Zamalek will face one of the runners-up from the group stage.
