CAF Confederation Cup: Zamalek keep clean sheet in second leg to reach final

CR Belouizdad came up short in their bid to reach the final of the CAF Confederation Cup after Friday’s 0-0 semifinal second leg draw in Cairo was enough for Egyptian titans Zamalek to advance.

The visitors from Algeria created some opportunities but could not manage a shot on target for most of the second leg, where they needed at least one goal after falling to a 0-1 first leg defeat in Algiers.

The hosts looked more likely to score. Oday Dabbagh appeared to put Zamalek ahead in the 26th minute with a precise header from Ahmed Fatouh’s free kick service. However, VAR revealed that the Palestinian forward was offside at the time of Fatouh’s delivery and the goal was ruled out.

Close to halftime, Dabbagh laid off a pass for Mohamed Ismail after a weak punch from goalkeeper Farid Chaal only made it twelve yards from goal. However, Chaal did well to come out and deflect Ismail’s effort wide.

Home goalkeeper Al Mahdy Soliman was finally called into action on multiple occasions in the second half. His defender Hossam Abdelmaguid was in the right place to clear after Soliman was forced out to close down an opposition attacker. In the 80th minute, the experienced shot stopper was called into action to close down Lotfi Boussouar’s effort before the ball was eventually cleared.

No goals to separate both sides in Cairo. 🤝 #TotalEnergiesCAFCC pic.twitter.com/Btjh3M95KJ

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) April 17, 2026

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But that was as close as CRB got to leveling the aggregate score. Zamalek will now await the winner of the second semifinal on Sunday between Moroccan club OC Safi and Algeria’s USM Alger, where the first leg ended 0-0 in Algeria. Whoever emerges victorious will host the first leg of the final on April 9 before the Egyptian club hosts the second leg a week later.