Zamalek’s title defense in the CAF Confederation Cup came to a crashing halt as the Cairo giants suffered a defeat at home to Stellenbosch.
Zamalek had entered the second leg with a slight edge after a goalless draw in South Africa last week. But rather than building on that advantage, they looked flat, with the visitors showing greater composure throughout the game.
The White Knights created just two real chances during the match. The first came in the 30th minute when Seifeddine Jaziri connected with a low cross from Ahmed Fatouh but failed to direct the ball with enough power or placement, allowing the Stellenbosch keeper to gather it comfortably. The second, early in the second half, saw the Tunisian striker again squander a golden opportunity from close range, firing wide of the post.
Stellenbosch, on the other hand, capitalized on their momentum with a finish from Nduli inside the box to break the deadlock and ultimately decide the tie.
Zamalek tried to pull back in the final minutes, but their attempts barely threatened the South African defense.
The defeat adds to a disappointing run in Zamalek’s season, delivering a heavy blow to a Zamalek side already under pressure amid ongoing internal turmoil and rumors about Ahmed Sayed Zizo’s potential departure to archrivals Al Ahly.