Zamalek have been officially eliminated from the CAF Champions League after losing 2-1 at home to Mazembe, ensuring their worst-ever run in Africa. All three goals came in the first half, with defender Hichani Himoonde putting Mazembe ahead seconds before Razak Omotoyossi equalized for Zamalek. But Mazembe teenager Mbwana Samata, who scored against Ahli in Cairo and against Zamalek in Lubumbashi, netted his third header in three matches to win the game for the visitors. The fourth straight defeat capped Zamalek's poorest continental run, while Mazembe claimed their seventh point to move second behind Ahli. The result also meant that leaders Ahli, who drew at Chelsea earlier on the day, have secured their place in the semis. Free heading After Ahmed Samir had heroically cleared Given Singuluma's shot off the line, Zamalek's slack backline was exposed when defender Himoonde easily headed in Tresor Mputu's corner in the 34th minute. The hosts replied instantly through Omotoyossi, who flicked in Mohamed Ibrahim's clever pass into the net. But Zamalek couldn't merit on their momentum as Mazembe added the second before half-time when Samata rose to head another Mputu cross past Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed. Abdul-Wahed made an impossible save to deny Samata another headed goal before thwarting a clear-on-goal Mputu again in injury time. Alexis Mendomo had a header cleared off the line at the other end but the Whites hardly made an effort to improve their dismal position as they become the first team of the group to wave goodbye to the Champions League.
