Egyptian club, Zamalek ended Enyimba’s CAF Confederation Cup journey with a 3-1 win in their final Group A match at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday.
Having already secured the top position with 11 points, the Egyptian side demonstrated their strength against Enyimba, who were aiming for a victory to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.
Mostafa Shalaby opened the scoring for Zamalek with a well-placed header in the 29th minute, followed by Seifeddine Jaziri doubling the lead shortly after halftime.
Enyimba responded in the 57th minute when Ifeanyi Ihemekwele scored, bringing a flicker of hope for a comeback. However, Jaziri’s second goal just three minutes from full time sealed the match for Zamalek.
In the other match in the group, Al Masry advanced with a solid 3-1 win over Black Bulls Maputo, highlighted by Fakhreddine Benblewssef’s impressive first-half hat-trick.
This result meant Enyimba finished outside the qualification spots, ending their ambitions of expanding their impressive collection of continental titles, which includes two CAF Champions League trophies.
As the eight-time Nigerian champions shift their focus to the Nigeria Premier Football League, which resumes on January 23 with a critical match against former champions Kano Pillars, there is an opportunity to channel their experiences from this competition into their domestic performance.
