Zamalek secured their place in the group stage of the 2026-2027 CAF Champions League after defeating Rwanda's APR FC 1-0 at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday evening in the second leg of the second preliminary round.

The Egyptian side advanced with a 2-0 aggregate victory, having also won the first leg 1-0 at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

The result keeps Zamalek's African campaign on track as they move into the next stage of the competition.

Early Goal and Missed Chances

Zamalek made an excellent start and needed just one minute to take the lead.

Ahmed Sherif scored after receiving a cross from Omar Gaber, giving the home side an early advantage and making APR's task even more difficult.

Following the opening goal, Zamalek continued to control possession and push forward in search of a second goal.

The players created several attacking opportunities but struggled to convert their chances into goals.

Near the end of the first half, APR attempted to respond and came close to scoring an equalizer.

However, Omar Gaber made an important defensive intervention to prevent the visitors from finding the net.

Zamalek entered halftime with a 1-0 lead and remained in control of the tie.

During the second half, the Egyptian team continued to attack, while APR tried to find space and create opportunities to get back into the match.

Zamalek's defense remained organized and prevented the visitors from scoring.

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At the other end, the home side missed several chances to extend their advantage.

Despite their attacking efforts, Ahmed Sherif's early goal remained the only goal of the match.

Substitutions Secure Qualification

Zamalek head coach Moatamed Gamal made several changes during the second half to refresh his team's attacking options.

In the 56th minute, Shikabala Banza and Ahmed Rabie came on to replace Ahmed Sherif and Mohamed Hamad.

Gamal made two more substitutions in the 71st minute, introducing Hossam Ashraf and Adam Kaied in place of Abdallah El Said and Oday Dabbagh.

The changes helped Zamalek maintain their attacking pressure, although the team could not add another goal before the final whistle.

Zamalek started the match with Mahdy Soliman in goal, supported by a defensive line featuring Ahmed Fatouh, Mahmoud Hamdy El Wensh, Mohamed Ismail, and Omar Gaber.

The midfield included Mohamed Shehata, Mohamed Hamad, and Abdallah El Said, while Ahmed Abdel Rahim Esho, Ahmed Sherif, and Oday Dabbagh led the attack.

With this victory, Zamalek completed two consecutive wins against APR without conceding a goal, securing their place in the CAF Champions League group stage.

Although qualification was the main objective, the number of missed scoring opportunities remains an area that the coaching staff will need to address.

As the competition moves into the group stage, Zamalek will face stronger opponents, making attacking efficiency and defensive consistency increasingly important in their pursuit of continental success.