Zamalek coach lavishes Kenya Police with praises despite tough CAF Confederation Cup clash

The Portuguese gaffer has praised Kenya Police FC's strong performance warning his team not to underestimate their oppone

Zamalek head coach Jose Gomes praised the "dominating" performance of Kenya Police FC despite his team securing a narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup clash.

The match, played at Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday afternoon, saw the Egyptian giants edge out their hosts courtesy of a goal just before halftime.

The White Knights found the breakthrough thanks to midfielder Abdalla Mohamed’s strike deep into stoppage time in the first half.

However, despite holding onto the slim advantage, Gomes was quick to acknowledge the strength and resilience of Kenya Police, who made their debut on the continental stage this season.

“They (Police) created some dangerous situations in our box,” Gomes admitted during his post-match interview.

“Police played really well, and of course, this match is not over. If we don’t respect them in the next game, we could lose because 1-0 means nothing.”

Indeed, the match was far from a comfortable ride for the five-time CAF Champions League winners.

The home side, buoyed by a lively crowd, created several clear-cut chances that could have altered the course of the game.

Despite being the underdogs, Kenya Police delivered a robust and spirited display, pressing Zamalek and forcing their defense into errors on several occasions.

Gomes noted that while his team achieved the primary goal of the match—securing a win—they were not without their own issues.

He pointed out some defensive lapses that could have easily been capitalized on by their opponents.

“The most important thing for me was achieving the win, and we executed some good tasks on the field,” he remarked as per YY Scores.

“There were defensive errors in the team that appeared during the match, and we will work on correcting them in the coming period. However, the positive aspect is that we succeeded in securing the victory and keeping a clean sheet.”

Kenya Police, the reigning domestic cup champions, earned praise for their performance, which belied their relative inexperience on the continental stage.

The team, making their debut in CAF competitions, showed tenacity and tactical awareness, putting the experienced Zamalek squad under considerable pressure throughout the 90 minutes.

For Zamalek, the result was a step in the right direction as they look to build on their recent successes.

Gomes, who has now been with the club for a substantial period, expressed confidence that his squad is much stronger than last season.

"Zamalek is stronger than last season after working with the team for a sufficient period to be technically prepared for the competitions and tournaments the team is participating in," he stated, hinting at the improvements in their tactical and technical setup.

However, the narrow margin of victory leaves the tie hanging in the balance.

With a second leg to come in Cairo on Friday, Zamalek will need to be wary of their opponents.

The Egyptian side, who have won the CAF Confederation Cup twice, are hoping to capitalize on their experience and progress to the group stages of the competition.

The aggregate winner from the two-legged fixture will secure a spot in the prestigious tournament’s group stage with everything to play for in the return leg.