Egyptian Zamalek tied 0-0 with Dreams, and its position in the Confederation is difficult

The unknown Ghanaian team, Dreams, imposed a goalless draw on its Egyptian host, Zamalek, at Cairo International Stadium in the first leg of the semi-finals of the African Confederation Cup, making the team’s task difficult in the return leg.

With this draw, Zamalek will face a difficult task in the return leg when it hosts the Ghanaian team next Sunday in Kumasi, a few days after its victory over Al-Ahly in the Egyptian League and the joy of its fans. The match began with offensive attempts by Zamalek and a defensive retreat for the visitors to absorb the pressure of the home team.

There were multiple attacking attempts against goalkeeper Solomon Agbesi by Mahmoud Abdel Razek “Shikabala”, Tunisian Seif El-Din Al-Jaziri and Mustafa Shalabi, but to no avail.

Zamalek players resorted to shooting from outside the penalty area due to the difficulty of penetrating the visitors’ defence, and Al-Jaziri tested his luck from the outskirts of the area with a ground shot that was blocked by Agbesi and then dispersed by the defense (28), then Ugandan Travis Mutyaba shot a ball that passed wide of the goal (45+3).

The Zamalek players continued their search for the lead goal at the beginning of the second half, and Al-Jaziri passed the ball inside the penalty area to the Beninese substitute Samson Akinola, who shot it strong and passed near the right post (47), then the Egyptian team got another opportunity through Senegalese Ibrahima Ndiaye with a header, who shot near the post. Right (49).

Minutes passed at the pace of a pressing attack by Zamalek and a clustered defense by Dreams. Shikabala executed a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, which Aghebsi turned away to a corner with difficulty (67), and Ndiaye’s header went over the crossbar (75) before the latter passed a perfect cross from which Al-Jaziri headed a header that went over the crossbar (88).

In the first minute of stoppage time, Zamalek wasted a goal opportunity following a corner kick that was converted by Ndiaye and Agbesi cleared it from the goal line. Then the defense dispersed it to a second corner kick, which resulted in an opportunity for Akinola, who shot from inside the penalty area. The ball bounced off the goalkeeper’s hand, and Hossam Abdel Majeed followed it up with a shot that bounced back. From the crossbar.