Egypt's Zamalek, who will face South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in a two-legged African Champions League final, made six appearances in the final of the continent's most prestigious club competition. Zamalek's success rate is impressive, having won five out of those clashes to come second in the competition's hall of fame behind Cairo rivals Ahly, who lifted the trophy eight times. Here is a summary of the Champions League finals involving Zamalek: 1-1984 (against Shooting Stars, Nigeria) Zamalek prevailed with an easy 3-0 aggregate victory over Nigeria's Shooting Stars. In the first leg at home, former Egypt striker Gamal Abdel-Hamid netted twice as Zamalek claimed a 2-0 victory. Abdel-Hamid opened the scoring on the quarter hour mark when he rose over his marker to head home a right-wing cross. He doubled the lead on 70 minutes from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way. In the second leg, Zamalek won 1-0 via an own goal 11 minutes after the interval. Zamalek v Shooting Stars, 1984 2-1986 (against Africa Sports, Ivory Coast) Zamalek's second final appearance was no walk in the park. They won the competition by the skin of their teeth after a hard-fought two-legged encounter. Although they seemed close to securing a win as soon as the first leg was over, with Ayman Younes scoring twice, Africa Sports bridged the deficit with a similar 2-0 second-leg victory to force a penalty shootout. In the first leg, Younes capitalised on the keeper's failure to handle a cross to hit a low shot into an empty net before finding the bottom corner with a superb shot on the turn in the second half. However, Zamalek were outplayed in the return leg in Abidjan but came out on top in the shootout, winning 4-2. Zamalek v Africa Sports, 1986 3-1993 (against Asante Kotoko, Ghana) After two goalless games over two legs, Zamalek once again prevailed on penalties to secure their third trophy under late coach Mahmoud El-Gohary, who is arguably the best manager in Egypt's footballing history. The shootout witnessed the birth of goalkeeper Nader El-Sayed, 21 years at the time, after he was introduced just before the end to take Hussein El-Sayed's place between the sticks. He blocked two spot-kicks in a marathon shootout to help Zamalek win 7-6 and spark wild celebrations at a packed Cairo Stadium. Zamalek v Asante Kotoko, 1993 4-1994 (against Esperance, Tunisia) This year marked the only time Zamalek had lost in a Champions League final after they made a second consecutive final appearance. They failed to break down Esperance in the first leg at home before slumping to a 3-1 defeat in the return leg after having a night to forget at El Menzah Stadium. Defender Hedi Berkhissa headed home the opener after 16 minutes following a mistake by the keeper and Ali Ben Naji converted a penalty to make it 2-0 on 55 minutes. Berkhissa effectively sealed the win on the breakaway before Effat Nassar scored Zamalek's consolation with a volley from inside the area but it was too little, too late. Zamalek v Esperance, 1994 5-1996 (against Shooting Stars, Nigeria) It was the third triumph for Zamalek on penalties after a tough encounter against Shooting Stars of Nigeria. Zamalek lost the first leg 2-1 away from home but striker Ayman Mansour created a goal and scored another as the Egyptians won with the same scoreline in the second leg. Defender Medhat Abdel-Hadi side-footed a cross from Mansour in the first half before the latter turned from provider to scorer after the break to put Zamalek in the driving seat with a close-range header. However, Shooting Stars scored a late goal following a defensive lapse to force a shootout, where Zamalek had the upper hand with a 5-4 victory. Both sides wasted one effort apiece before the last Shooting Stars' spot-kick struck the bar to gift Zamalek a fourth Champions League title. Zamalek v Shooting Stars, 1996 6-2002 (against Raja Casablanca, Morocco) Zamalek's last appearance in the final saw them secure a narrow 1-0 aggregate victory. They defended doggedly in the away leg to survive several scares before a precious second-leg winner at the Cairo Stadium came from an unlikely source. Defensive midfielder Tamer Hamid let fly from distance on the stroke of halftime, with his shot striking the hands of the keeper before looping into the net. Zamalek v Raja Casablanca, 2002
