Badmus Abdulsobur
The 2020 finalists have fallen at the group stage despite winning their final fixture of the round
Egyptian giants SC Zamalek have crashed out of the Caf Champions League less than five months after being defeated in the 2020 final.
The Cairene heavyweights downed Senegal’s FC Teungueth 4-1 in their final group fixture on Saturday, and appeared to be taking a giant step towards the knockout stages.
However, the result of the other group game—as Esperance were held 1-1 at home by Mouloudia Club d’Alger—ensured that Zamalek ended the stage in third place in the group.
The draw in the other match proved to be enough for MC Alger to progress alongside already qualified Esperance, regardless of Zamalek’s result, and there was much chagrin among the Egyptian giants’ technical bench at the performance of their two North African rivals.
Zamalek players and staff watch MC Alger hold Esperance away to advance to the Caf Champions League knockouts at the 2020 finalists' expense.
Esperance & MC Alger barely tried after the Algerians equalised - knowing both would go through.
Following MC Alger’s equaliser, the two sides appeared to play out the rest of their fixture at a much reduced intensity, knowing that the result would see one of the tournament favourites fall while the Algerians progressed alongside Esperance.
Heading into the final group game, Esperance led the group with 10 points from five matches, with MC Alger second on eight and Zamalek third on five.
Teungueth, despite defeating Esperance at home earlier this month, were already eliminated on four points with one match to play.
While only victory would be enough for Zamalek to stand a chance of progression, MC Alger knew that they would progress if they avoided defeat, regardless of the White Knight’s result.
To Zamalek’s credit, they bounced back to stand a chance of progression
following a woeful start to the group stage in which they took just two points from their opening four fixtures, although group-stage elimination will prompt an inquisition at the 2020 finalists.
They got the job done on Saturday with a resounding victory over Teungueth.
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