Zamalek face a difficult challenge ahead of their upcoming match against Rwanda's APR FC, with six players ruled out of the game scheduled for Friday, October 16, 2026, in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

The absences come at an important time for Zamalek, who hope to make a strong start to their African campaign and secure a positive result away from home before the return leg in Cairo.

Zamalek Absences

Zamalek will be without six players for different reasons.

Mohamed El Sayed, Mohamed Ibrahim, and Moroccan defender Mahmoud Bentayg are unavailable because of injuries, while Amr Nasser will miss the match as he is not yet fully ready to play.

Seif Gaafar and Omar Abdelaziz have also been left out of the squad for technical reasons, leaving the coaching staff with several positions to consider ahead of the important African fixture.

Mohamed El Sayed is recovering from a fracture in his foot, which has kept him away from team training in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Mahmoud Bentayg suffered a hamstring tear that will prevent him from taking part in the match against APR.

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These absences create an additional challenge for Zamalek's coaching staff, who must find suitable replacements while maintaining the team's balance on the pitch.

Zamalek's Plan

Head coach Moatamed Gamal is working to prepare the available players and select the best possible lineup for the match.

The coaching staff are focusing on making the most of the available squad and giving each player a clear role to help the team deliver a balanced performance against their Rwandan opponents.

Zamalek know that away matches in African competitions require concentration and discipline, especially when several important players are unavailable.

The Egyptian side hope to overcome their injury problems and return from Rwanda with a positive result before hosting APR in the second leg in Cairo on October 24.

The match represents an important test for Zamalek, who aim to continue their CAF Champions League journey and avoid any unexpected difficulties that could affect their chances of reaching the next round.