Stellenbosch FC showcased immense resilience and tactical discipline as they held reigning CAF Confederation Cup champions, Zamalek SC, to a goalless draw during the quarter-final first leg at the DHL Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Ahead of kick off, the odds appeared heavily stacked in favor of Zamalek. Known for their pedigree, the Egyptian powerhouse boasts an impressive record, including 13 continental trophies that underline their dominance in African football.
On the other hand, Stellenbosch, under the stewardship of coach Steve Barker, found themselves navigating uncharted waters as they made their maiden appearance at this stage of the competition. However, the script flipped once the teams took to the field.
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Stellenbosch were the more dominant side early on, controlling possession and looking to break down Zamalek’s defence. Despite their early territorial advantage, both teams struggled to create meaningful opportunities in the opening 20 minutes, with neither side managing a shot on target.
The first real chance of the match came in the 26th minute, when Andre De Jong’s powerful strike from range took a heavy deflection, but Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Moussa was on hand to make a straightforward save. Just minutes later, De Jong had another go, but his shot sailed wide.
Zamalek’s first significant attempt came in the 38th minute, courtesy of Mostafa Shalaby, whose long-range shot flew high and wide of goal, offering little threat to Stellenbosch keeper Sage Stephens. At the other end, Ashley Cupido curled an effort wide of his own just two minutes later.
Despite a few half-chances and the occasional shot from distance, both sides struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities, and the match went into halftime with the score still 0-0.
The second half started in much the same fashion, with few opportunities in the early exchanges. The first shot on target of the second period came in the 67th minute, but Sihle Nduli’s header was easily gathered by Moussa. Just two minutes later, Zamalek’s Ahmed Sayed tried his luck from distance, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Stephens.
Stellenbosch continued to press, but De Jong was unable to direct a header on target in the 72nd minute, leaving the scoreline unchanged.
Zamalek looked the more dangerous side as the game entered its final stages, with the Egyptians nearly stealing a late win in the 85th minute. A close-range shot was saved heroically by Stephens, ensuring that the tie remained deadlocked going into the second leg.
The match ended 0-0, with both teams failing to find the back of the net despite a handful of chances. The tie remains finely poised as Stellenbosch now head to Egypt for the second leg, where they will look to build on their strong defensive display and secure a historic spot in the semi-finals. Kick off in Egypt is set for 18h00 on Wednesday, 09 April 2025.