Zamalek SC have suffered major injury setbacks with two key players ruled out of Saturday’s CAF Confederation Cup showdown with Kaizer Chiefs.
The two sides clash in a Group D match, having experienced mixed fortunes in their respective opening matches last weekend. Amakhosi were edged 2-1 by Al Masry in Suez, while Zamalek beat visiting ZESCO United 1-0 at Cairo International Stadium.
Saturday’s confrontation at Peter Mokaba Stadium will see Chiefs out to recover from the defeat by Al Masry to keep themselves in contention to reach the tournament knockouts. Their Egyptian opponents will be keen on building on the positive start in this group campaign.
It is a match, the Soweto giants welcome back midfielder Gaston Sirino, who was suspended for the Al Masry game. The likes of Glody Lilepo, Khanyisa Mayo, Wandile Duba and Aden McCarthy are racing against time to be fit for the game against Zamalek.
However, the five-time African champions arrived in South Africa without some of their regular starters. The match against ZESCO came at a cost, with midfielders Nabil Dunga and Abdallah El-Said getting injured during that contest. The two are not part of the squad that arrived in South Africa on Wednesday.
ZAMALEK CONFIRM INJURY BLOW TO TWO PLAYERS
“The medical staff of Zamalek’s first football team confirmed that midfielder Nabil Emad Dunga sustained a knee injury during the match against ZESCO United of Zambia, which took place today, Sunday, in the Confederation Cup,” announced the Egyptian giants.
“The medical staff added that the player was transferred to a hospital near Cairo Stadium to undergo further medical examinations to determine the extent of his injury.”
Former Al Ahly and Egypt star El-Said has a hamstring muscle tear which has ruled him out of the Polokwane battle.
“The medical staff of Zamalek’s first football team revealed the extent of the injury suffered by Abdallah El-Said, the team’s midfielder, during the recent match against ZESCO United of Zambia in the African Confederation Cup,” the club said.
“The medical staff confirmed that the scans and tests the player underwent proved that he had a tear in his hamstring, and the player began implementing his rehabilitation programme.”
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