Egypt’s Zamalek moved to the brink of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Algeria’s CR Belouizdad in the first leg of their semi-final clash at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Friday night.
Juan Bezerra’s first-half strike proved decisive in Algiers, handing the Egyptian side a crucial away win and a narrow advantage ahead of next week’s return leg in Cairo.
The result places Zamalek in a strong position to reach the final, while Belouizdad are left to rue missed chances in a contest they largely controlled but failed to convert.
Bezerra strikes to silence Algiers
The hosts began brightly, enjoying early possession and dictating the tempo, but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.
Zamalek, however, looked dangerous on the counter-attack and came close to opening the scoring in the 17th minute when Bezerra’s effort drifted just wide.
Belouizdad responded moments later, striking the post through Meziane, as the home side began to push forward with greater urgency.
Despite the pressure, it was Zamalek who broke the deadlock in the 28th minute. A long delivery from Fatouh caused confusion in the Belouizdad defence, allowing Bezerra to pounce and fire home from close range.
The goal shifted momentum, with Zamalek growing in confidence as they took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Belouizdad frustration as chances go begging
The second half saw Belouizdad intensify their attacking efforts in search of an equaliser, but a combination of poor finishing and resilient defending kept them at bay.
The Algerian side struck the woodwork again and had a goal ruled out following a VAR review for handball, further adding to their frustration.
Zamalek goalkeeper Mahdi Suleiman produced a crucial save late on to preserve his side’s advantage, while the visitors remained disciplined in defence under sustained pressure.
Despite dominating large spells, Belouizdad were unable to find a breakthrough, leaving them with a deficit to overturn in the return leg.
Zamalek edge closer to final
The victory marks Zamalek’s first-ever win over CR Belouizdad and only their second triumph on Algerian soil in continental competition — a result that could prove pivotal in their quest for another African title.
However, with only a single goal separating the sides, the tie remains finely balanced ahead of the second leg in Cairo.
Zamalek will look to capitalise on home advantage and their experience in continental competitions, while Belouizdad must produce a clinical performance to keep their hopes alive.
The return leg is scheduled for Friday, 17 April, where a place in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final will be decided.
SOURCE: CAF ONLINE
