Kenya Police FC suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Egyptian powerhouse Zamalek SC in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round.
The narrow loss at Nyayo National Stadium has left the Mozzart Bet Cup champions needing a miracle in the second leg in Egypt to keep their hopes of progressing to the group stage alive.
Zamalek’s decisive goal came in the 44th minute when Mostafa Sayed found the back of the net with a well-placed low shot that slipped past Police goalkeeper Patrick Matasi.
The visitors, dominant for most of the match, showed their class and experience, leaving Kenya Police FC with a mountain to climb ahead of next week’s return fixture in Egypt.
First Half: Zamalek Dictate Play, Police Struggle to Break Through
From the opening whistle, Zamalek SC took control of the game, pressing high and dominating possession.
The five-time CAF Champions League winners tested Police’s defense early, with Ahmed Mostafa earning a free kick in the third minute, though the attempt went wide. Five minutes later, Zamalek came close again when Ahmed’s shot was saved comfortably by Matasi.
Police FC, under the guidance of head coach Anthony Kimani, struggled to contain Zamalek’s fluid passing and movement.
The visitors kept pressing and thought they had taken the lead in the 10th minute when Naser Abed set up Nahil Aly Elmahdy, only for the goal to be ruled offside.
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Despite Zamalek’s pressure, Police had a few chances of their own, with Jaffary Owiti missing a golden opportunity in the 24th minute when he failed to convert a one-on-one chance against Zamalek’s goalkeeper, Mohammed Daader.
As the half progressed, Police began to find their footing but were unable to sustain the momentum. Zamalek finally broke the deadlock in the 44th minute when Mostafa Sayed capitalized on a quick break, slotting the ball past Matasi into the bottom right corner, leaving the home side trailing going into halftime.
Second Half: Police Fight Back but Fall Short
In the second half, Kenya Police FC showed more resilience and urgency. Coach Kimani made tactical substitutions, introducing Alvin Mangeni and Tyson Otieno, which gave the team fresh energy.
Mangeni almost made an immediate impact, with his 62nd-minute cutback causing panic in Zamalek’s defense, but the opportunity was squandered.
Police continued to press forward, hoping for an equalizer. In the 71st minute, Jesse Were found space inside the penalty area but opted to shoot instead of passing to his teammates. His weak shot was easily dealt with by Daader.
Despite their increased attacking intent, Police FC could not break through Zamalek’s defense. The visitors held firm, and the game ended 1-0 in favor of the Egyptian side, leaving Kenya Police FC with a challenging task in the second leg.
What’s Next: Police’s Uphill Battle in Egypt
Kenya Police FC will now need to score at least two goals in the second leg to advance to the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup. They will face a formidable Zamalek side on home turf, making their task even more daunting.
Coach Anthony Kimani will need to devise a new strategy if his team is to have any hope of progressing. The Law Enforcers will need to tighten their defense, capitalize on their chances, and be more clinical in front of goal. With Zamalek’s vast experience in continental competitions, Police FC will need to bring their best performance to overturn the deficit.
