Against all odds, the White Knights knocked down Nkana FC of Zambia 5-0 at the Air Defence Stadium in New Cairo to book a place in the group stage of the most important and high-profile football tournament of the continent — the African Champions League. The result saved the face of Egyptian football, which had three other teams playing at the African championships — Ahli and Zamalek at the Champions League and Ismaili and Wadi Degla at the CAF Confederations Cup. A day before Zamalek's victory, Ahli had suffered a 2-3 home loss to neighbours Ahly of Benghazi at the Air Defence Stadium in New Cairo. The sudden defeat left the best African club and giants Ahli in a shock, while the their opponents Benghazi joyfully celebrated in tears. At the CAF Confederations Cup, both Ismaili and Wadi Degla exited the competition on Sunday. Ismaili lost to Angola's Petro Atletico 1-0, while Wadi Degla lost to Djoliba of Mali 2-0. Zamalek's result was a surprise not only to the visitors, but to Zamalek's team and fans as well. It was the large margin of defeat that was unexpected, especially after a lacklustre performance and goalless draw at the first-leg game three weeks before in Kitwe. For the Zamalkawias, the victory tasted sweeter than ever as their arch rivals and reigning champions, Ahli, were shockingly humiliated by Ahly of Benghazi 2-3 at home a day before and therefore bid farewell to their favourite tournament. Twenty minutes into the game, Zamalek's Ahmed Tawfik opened the score for the White Knights who were playing in front of Zamalek's new board of directors headed by Mortada Mansour and Egypt's Minister of Youth and Sports Khaled Abdel-Aziz. Momen Zakaria then netted a free kick to give his team a 2-0 lead at half time. Omar Gaber added the third in the second half of the game followed by Hazem Emam who scored from a close range. Striker Ahmed Gaffar sealed his team's impressive triumph when he sent home the fifth goal of the match making it through to the group stages of the prestigious Champions League competition. Reactions to Zamalek's victory came first from the new chairman, Mortada Mansour, who announced his full support of the football team and its head coach, Ahmed Hossam Mido. In the absence of Ahli, Zamalek are aiming high this time. The goal now is to repeat their days of African glory when they won this tournament five times before. Zamalek also holds three CAF Super Cups and one African Cup Winners' Cup, rendering the club one of the most successful of the 20th century in Africa. Though defending champions Ahli bid an early goodbye to the African champions, the team still has a chance to take part at another African competition, albeit of less importance, known as the Confederations Cup. In a draw that was held on Tuesday at the headquarters of the African Football Confederation (CAF) in the city of 6th of October in Cairo, Ahli was placed to meet Difaa Hassani Jadida of Morrocco.The draw was conducted to determine the four matches to be played between the top four-seeded teams of the Champions League and the four non-seeded teams of the Confederations Cup. Another draw was conducted to determine the matches to be played with the four top-seeded teams of the Confederations Cup and the non- seeded team of the Champions League. The CAF Confederations Cup first-leg matches will be held on the weekend of 18, 19 and 20 April and second leg matches will take place on the weekend of 25, 26 and 27 April. Ahli is now gearing for a comeback at the CAF Confederations Cup. The team head coach, Mohamed Youssef, is currently working on renewing and reshaping the team and preparing them for the championship, especially after receiving the vote of confidence from the new board of directors to remain in his position until at least the end of the season. The CAF Confederations Cup is the last chance for Ahli to remain in the African spotlight.
