Zamalek to play for its last chance

JOHANNESBURG - Agence France-Presse

Al Ahly’s Mohamed Nagi (L) and Zamalek’s Hamada Tolba jump for the ball during a CAF Champions League match.

Al Ahly’s Mohamed Nagi (L) and Zamalek’s Hamada Tolba jump for the ball during a CAF Champions League match.

Zamalek needs a victory this weekend and a big favor from Cairo rival Al Ahly to have any chance of surviving the CAF Champions League group phase.

Victories for the two Egyptian sides would give Ahly an unassailable eight-point lead in Group B after matchday four and bring Zamalek back into contention for second place and the other semifinal spot.

Pointless Zamalek hosts second-place TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo behind closed doors as a result of security concerns whlile Ahly is away to third-place Berekum Chelsea in Ghana.

Al Ahly is on nine points, Mazembe and Chelsea are separated by goal difference as they have four points each and Zamalek has suffered three consecutive losses.

Zamalek striker Razak Omotoyossi believes the team is still in contention. “I really hope we can finish with nine points. We have a chance of qualifying - albeit a slim one,” he told Egyptian reporters.