Zamalek Snatch Late Victory Over Rwanda Army in CAF Champions League
Zamalek delivered a dramatic late blow in Kigali, defeating Rwanda Army 1-0 in the first leg of their CAF Champions League Round of 32 tie. Substitute Nasser Mansi scored in the 89th minute to turn a tense, chance-filled contest into a valuable away win for the Egyptian side.
The result gives Zamalek a significant advantage ahead of the return match in Cairo. A draw would be enough to send them through, while Rwanda Army must win by at least two goals to overturn the deficit. Although the visitors will be encouraged by the scoreline, the performance also offered a reminder that the tie is not yet settled: Rwanda created several dangerous opportunities and could have taken control before Mansi’s decisive finish.
Goalkeeper Soliman keeps Zamalek in the contest
The opening half was lively, but both teams struggled to make their chances count. Rwanda Army threatened first in the seventh minute, only for Zamalek to respond quickly. Oday Dabbagh had a promising one-on-one opportunity three minutes later but could not find the finish, and Shikabala also missed a clear sight of goal in the 14th minute.
As the half progressed, the hosts began to look increasingly dangerous. Zamalek goalkeeper El Mahdy Soliman became central to the visitors’ survival, producing an important save to turn away a powerful effort in the 26th minute. Seven minutes later, he again stood firm, blocking a one-on-one chance and preventing Rwanda Army from taking the lead.
Zamalek continued to search for an opening of their own. Omar Gaber tried his luck in the 41st minute, but Rwanda Army’s defence cleared the attempt. With opportunities at both ends and no breakthrough, the teams went into the interval level at 0-0.
Disallowed goal and a remarkable missed chance
The second half brought more pressure from Rwanda Army. Their forward fired over the crossbar in the 51st minute, before the home side appeared to score two minutes later. The celebration was short-lived, however, as the referee ruled the goal out for offside.
Zamalek’s coaching staff responded with a double substitution in the 57th minute, bringing on Mahmoud Gehad and Eissa for Abdallah El Said and Hossam Ashraf. The changes were intended to add energy and movement to the attack. Just two minutes later, Fotouh came close to giving the visitors the lead, but his opportunity went unfinished.
Rwanda Army continued to push forward, and the match’s most astonishing moment arrived in the 79th minute. Soliman rushed out of his goal but failed to deal with the situation cleanly, leaving a Rwanda Army attacker with an open net. With the goalkeeper out of position and the goal unguarded, the striker had a golden chance to score. Instead, he dragged his shot wide.
That miss proved enormously costly. It kept Zamalek level at a moment when the hosts looked capable of taking the advantage, and gave the visitors the opportunity to punish them late in the match.
Mansi makes the difference in the 89th minute
As the game entered its final minutes, a goalless draw seemed the likeliest outcome. Zamalek, however, found one last attacking move. A coordinated late attack ended with substitute Nasser Mansi in the right place to finish in the 89th minute, silencing the Kigali crowd and securing a 1-0 victory.
The timing made the goal especially damaging for Rwanda Army. After creating several chances and missing the opportunity to score into an empty net, the hosts were left with little time to respond. For Zamalek, Mansi’s finish rewarded their persistence and turned a difficult away performance into a potentially decisive result.
CAF Champions League prediction: Zamalek in control, but not through yet
Zamalek will travel into the second leg with a clear advantage. A draw of any score in Cairo will be enough to secure qualification, while a one-goal Rwanda Army win would take the tie beyond normal time, depending on the competition’s regulations. The visitors’ 1-0 victory also means the Rwandan side faces a demanding task: it must score at least twice to advance without relying on a penalty shootout.
For fans making a football prediction ahead of the return fixture, Zamalek will naturally be viewed as the favourite. The Egyptian club can build on its home support and the confidence gained from scoring so late in Kigali. Still, the first leg showed that Rwanda Army can create openings, particularly when it presses aggressively. Zamalek will need to defend with greater composure and avoid giving the visitors another clear route to goal.
Soliman’s performance and Mansi’s late intervention were the defining contributions, but the missed chances on both sides may shape the second leg as much as the goal itself. Zamalek have put one foot closer to the group stage, yet Rwanda Army still have a chance to make the contest uncomfortable. The return match in Cairo will decide whether the late Kigali sting becomes the moment that secured Zamalek’s progress.
