Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Feb 14, 2026.
Zamalek SC (0) 2
(Bazerra 53’, El-Said 72’)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1
(Lilepo 75’)
TotalEnergies Caf Confederation Cup, Group D
Suez Canal Authority stadium, Ismailia, Egypt
Kaizer Chiefs were disappointingly knocked out of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Zamalek at the Suez Canal Authority stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, on a nail-biting final group stage match day on Saturday.
Juan Bazerra gave the hosts a 53rd minute lead before Abdallah El-Said doubled the lead in the 72nd minute. Glody Lilepo pulled a goal back three minutes later but the White Knights held out to take first place in Group D.
Coupled with Al Masry’s 2-0 victory over ZESCO United in the other match in the group, Chiefs, who started the day in top spot, finished up third, a point behind Zamalek and losing the second qualifying position to Al Masry on goal difference after ending level on points and head-to-head record.
Amakhosi acquitted themselves well in the opening 20 minutes and managed to subdue the vociferous partisan crowd inside the stadium by pressing effectively and passing the ball around with authority to frustrate their opponents who knew they had to win to be sure of progressing.
In fact, it was Chiefs forward, Glody Lilepo, who registered the first shot on target in the 22nd minute, a wicked dipping free kick from more then 30 yards out that Zamalek’ keeper, Mohamed Soliman tipped over the crossbar. Moments later, the lively Lebohang Moboe broke clear but couldn’t get his cross in with Flavio Da Silva witing inside the box.
Brandon Petersen then pulled off an excellent diving save to deny Oday Dabbagh in the 26th minute to keep his goal intact, as the hosts increased the pressure as the half wore on. Chiefs, however, were still very much in the game and looked dangerous when going forward though the cutting edge was absent as caution superseded adventure with the stakes so high and precarious.
Dabbagh just failed to get on the end of a Bezerra pass that would have given him a tap-in after 35 minutes and the same player headed Mohamed Shehata’s cross wide at the far post in stoppage time that was a massive let-off for Chiefs, who were satisfied to go into the half-time interval at 0-0.
The Phefeni Glamour Boys began the second half with a bit more panache yet fell behind eight minutes after the restart when Dabbagh lofted a ball into space down the inside right channel that found Naser Masny, whose cross was met at the near post by Bazerra’s glancing header.
Chiefs responded immediately and Thabiso Monyane was unlucky not to reach Siphesihle’s through ball that would have given him a clear sight at goal.
With the news that Al Masry were leading against ZESCO Chiefs became more urgent and were dispossessed in their own half in the 72nd minute, whereupon Zmalek took full advantage of their situation by working the ball to El-Said who rifled the ball past Petersen into the net.
Lilepo gave Amakhosi a lifeline in the 75th minute, leaping head and shoulders above the Zamalek defence to plant a firm header past Soliman to halve the deficit.
With time running out, Chiefs gave everything in an effort to score the one gaol that would have taken them into the knockout phase as group winners, but alas, the host held out until the referee blew full time and Amakhosi were out of the competition by the narrowest of margins.
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen © (1), Mako (29), Monyane (2), Kwinika (4), Msimango (25) (Solomons (18) 82’), Matlou (22), Ndlovu (8) (Mabaso (34) 72’), Maboe (6), Mmodi (13) (Vilakazi (28) 81’), Lilepo (19), Da Silva (32) (Mayo (3) 73’)
Subs not used: Bvuma (16); Shinga (33), Shabalala (7), Sirino (10), Velebayi (17)
Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze
Zamalek SC: Mohamed Soliman (37); Mohmed Kotb (24) (Concalves Sacalumbo (32) 68’), Dabbagh (27) (Mohamed Ahmed (39) 68’), Abdelmegeed Abdelsalam (5), Mansy (9) (Jaziri (30) 82’), Abdelhamid (11), Mohamed Shehata Mohmoud (17), Hamouda Attia © (28), Kamal (31) (Abdallah El-Said (19) 46’), Alvina Bezerra (33) (Hafez (14) 89’), Mostafa (34)
Subs not used: Mahmoud Badawy (35); Abdelmoneim (26), Badawy (35), Ahmed Ibrahim (40)
Coach: Moatamed Gamal Abdelziz Mahmoud Shalaby
