Egyptian club Zamalek seeks record CAF Cup winnings despite financial struggles

Egypt’s Zamalek Travel to Algeria’s USM Alger for Confederation Cup Final

Zamalek, an Egyptian football club, is set to face USM Alger of Algeria in the first leg of their Confederation Cup final on Saturday. The match will be held at a 50,000-seat stadium and marks the beginning of a two-legged competition between the two teams.

The winner of this match will receive a record $4m CAF prize, with Zamalek also eligible for an additional $500,000 if they win the Confederation Cup Super Cup. The team has previously won the trophy in 2019 and 2024, while USM Alger won in 2023.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently increased the prizes for the winners and runners-up to $4m and $2m, respectively. This decision provides a significant boost to Zamalek, which is facing financial difficulties, including reported debts of $6.5m.

Zamalek’s history in CAF competitions includes 13 titles, making them the second most successful club in the continent. However, the team has been struggling financially and has turned to FIFA for help due to unpaid transfer fees and owed money to former coaches and players.

The match will feature a mix of local and foreign stars from both teams, with USM Alger’s Raadi Sadouani and Zamalek’s Omar Gaber serving as captains. The competition has seen a dominance of North African clubs in the second-tier African competition, with 17 victories in 22 finals.

Both teams have made significant progress in this season’s tournament, with Zamalek scoring 17 goals and USM Alger’s Dramane Kamagate scoring six goals. The match will be an important test for both teams as they look to advance to the next stage of the competition.

Source: Al Jazeera