Zamalek coach reveals why first leg against Otoho was different from upcoming 2nd leg

Zamalek head coach Moatamad Gamal has stressed the difficulty of his side’s upcoming clash against AS Otoho, as the White Knights prepare for the decisive second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals.

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Gamal acknowledged that while Zamalek may appear favorites on paper, it’s difficult to count on the first leg result after it ended in a 1-1 draw in Congo.

“On paper, things are in Zamalek’s favor, but it is difficult to rely on the result of the first leg that was held in Congo Brazzaville. We are facing a strong opponent, and we are focused on achieving a positive result from the beginning of the match to make things easier for ourselves.”

The Zamalek boss emphasized that both players and technical staff are aware of the challenge ahead, highlighting the continuous communication within the squad regarding the importance of the match.

“The players and the technical staff know the difficulty of the match, and we constantly talk to the players about the importance of the game. The first leg had different circumstances because the weather was very difficult and the pitch conditions were also tough.”

Gamal pointed out that conditions will be different in Cairo, where Zamalek hope to snatch the semifinal spot.

“Things will be different in tomorrow’s match compared to the first leg. We worked on preparing the team in the best possible way for the Otoho match, and I hope Zamalek fans will be proud of their team.”

As part of their preparations, Zamalek played a friendly match, allowing the coaching staff to assess the readiness of returning players, including Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh.

“Zamalek played a friendly match as part of the preparations for the Otoho game, and the technical staff reassured themselves about the condition of players returning from injury such as Mahmoud Hamdy ‘El-Wensh’, Amr Nasser, and Mahmoud Gehad.”

Gamal concluded by underlining the importance of fan support, describing Zamalek’s supporters as a major source of confidence.

“Zamalek fans represent great value to me, and I feel reassured when they are present in the stands. I hope we can make them very happy in tomorrow’s match.”

The White Knights will host AS Otoho on Sunday evening at Cairo International Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 18:00 local time. The tie remains finely balanced after the first-leg draw, leaving everything to play for as both sides chase a place in the semi-finals.

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