Cape Town Stadium is set to host a captivating CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, as South African representatives Stellenbosch lock horns with Egyptian powerhouse and current titleholders, Zamalek.
Form Guide
Stellenbosch earned their debut on the continental stage after a commendable third-place finish in the South African top flight last season. Their journey in the Confederation Cup has been impressive thus far. They navigated a challenging Group B, ultimately securing second place behind group leaders RSB Berkane, while leaving Lunda Sul and Stade Malien trailing in their wake. This progression marks a significant milestone for the club.
Standing in their path are the reigning CAF Confederation Cup champions Zamalek. Their triumph in the previous season, where they overcame RSB Berkane in a thrilling final, underscores their pedigree in African club competitions. Zamalek’s participation in this year’s tournament was secured through a third-place finish in the fiercely competitive Egyptian Premier League, where they currently occupy third spot.
The White Knights demonstrated their strength in the group stages, emerging as winners of Group D after outperforming fellow contenders Al Masry, Enyimba, and Black Bulls. Boasting a rich history in continental football, Zamalek are five-time winners of the prestigious CAF Champions League, a testament to their enduring legacy on the African football landscape.
What they said
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker said in the Sowetan: “Playing on the continent, I think, is a different level.
“To be playing a team such as Zamalek who are the defending champions, who’ve won the Champions League five times, it becomes a massive game for us. I don’t think we’d be wrong in saying that this is one of the biggest games that the club is involved in.”
“Yes, we’re privileged to be in this position. But at the same time, I keep wanting to remind everyone that I think we’ve earned the right to be on the same park as a team as Zamalek,” Barker added.
“A lot of people may believe we don’t have an opportunity, but our team is built on resilience. It’s built on the ability to overcome challenges. And we are looking forward to this challenge.”
Zamalek coach Jose Peseiro has warned his side not to underestimate the Cape Winelands club.
He explained: “It’s a good team, very good character, very good character. Congratulations for the coach. They fight, they fight, they fight.
“I think Stellenbosch is one team that has grown up a lot in the last years; showed good quality, good organisation, good capacity, good coach, good players. They show good character on the pitch, character of the fighter. Sure they believe they can go all the way, like us.”
How to watch
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 15:00 on Wednesday, 02 April 2025 and will be carried live on the public broadcaster’s radio stations for commentary. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport channel 202 as well as SABC 3 and can also be streamed on Showmax and SABC plus.
Cape Town Stadium
The 55 000 seater stadium will host the clash between Stellenbosch and Zamalek. The Greenpoint based stadium was initially constructed to host matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has since become the dedicated home ground for the esteemed Western Province Rugby Union.
The stadium’s association with DHL is reflected in its official name and apart from hosting football and rugby matches, it has held music concerts and the sixth edition of Roger Federer’s Matches for Africa.
Betting odds (supplied by Hollywoodbets)
To win (90 min)
Stellenbosch 22/10 | Draw 31/20 | Zamalek 14/10
The continental clash between Stellenbosch and reigning champions Zamalek is set to be a hotly contested one!
While the Egyptian side have a wealth of experience in continental competitions and are five-time CAF Champions League winners, this is Stellies’ first time playing in Africa, making this game, “one of the biggest games in the club’s history”.
I think this will be a low scoring affair, with both outfits set to learn more from one another during the first leg tie.
Back Stellies on the double chance and under 2.5 goals at 19/20.