Ndola, Zambia – 8 February 2026 – ZESCO United secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Egyptian giants Zamalek SC in a Group D encounter of the CAF Confederation Cup at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, earning their first win of the competition.
Both sides began the match positively, with ZESCO United enjoying spells of possession and creating early opportunities. However, the first half ended goalless as neither team could seriously trouble the goalkeepers.
The hosts came out for the second half with renewed energy. ZESCO United thought they had broken the deadlock in the 57th minute when Abraham Siankombo finished off a cross from Amine Hiver, but the effort was ruled out for offside by the assistant referee.
The breakthrough finally came in the 61st minute when Emmanuel Manda was fouled inside the penalty area. Amine Hiver stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty to give ZESCO United a well-deserved lead.
The home side continued to press for a second goal, with Hiver delivering dangerous crosses into the box, but Zamalek managed to clear the threats. The match ended 1–0, marking ZESCO United’s first win in Group D.
Speaking after the match, Head Coach Mathews Ndhlovu reflected on the challenge of the encounter and praised his players’ performance:
“The game was tough, especially playing against an experienced side like Zamalek. We were coming from a challenging period without a win, but our plan worked. The players gave everything and deserved the victory. Even though we are out of the competition, we want to finish on a high note.”
ZESCO United will now shift focus to their final group stage match away to Al Masry in Egypt, where they will aim to close their CAF Confederation Cup campaign on a positive note.
