Stellenbosch CEO: "We Didn’t Want to Face Zamalek in the Confederation Cup"
Khaled Hegazy
Dailysports's expert
Rob Bernardi, the CEO of Stellenbosch FC, acknowledged that his team wanted to finish the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals without seeing Zamalek.
A highly anticipated matchup was set up when the defending champions, Zamalek, were drawn to play Stellenbosch of South Africa.
Bernardi: A Tough Draw for Stellenbosch
Bernardi voiced his worries about playing the Egyptian powerhouses in an interview with Egypt's Channel One: "We preferred other opponents; we didn't want to face Zamalek in the quarterfinals."
"Our club has only been playing in Africa for seven years, while Zamalek is a huge club with a rich history and numerous continental titles."
Despite the challenge, Bernardi remains optimistic: “We are ready for this test against a great team. The match will be tough because Zamalek is one of the favorites for the title.”
He also acknowledged the experience of Zamalek’s squad: “They have top players with great experience and know how to win. We will play the first leg at home with full force to keep our chances alive.”
Zamalek vs. Stellenbosch: Key Match Dates
- First leg: April 2, 2025 – Stellenbosch (South Africa)
- Second leg: April 9, 2025 – Cairo International Stadium
Possible Egyptian Derby in the Semifinals
Al Masry and Zamalek have advanced from Group D and might play each other in the semifinals.
Quarterfinal Draw:
- Stellenbosch (South Africa) vs. Zamalek (Egypt) – (Match 1)
- ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) vs. RS Berkane (Morocco) – (Match 2)
- CS Constantine (Algeria) vs. USM Alger (Algeria) – (Match 3)
- Al Masry (Egypt) vs. Simba (Tanzania) – (Match 4)
Semifinal Matchups:
- Winner of Match 2 vs. Winner of Match 3
- Winner of Match 4 vs. Winner of Match 1
If Zamalek reaches the final, they will play all their knockout second-leg matches at home. On the other hand, if Al Masry reaches the final, they will play all their second-leg matches away from home.
A Tough Road Ahead
Stellenbosch knows they face a huge challenge but remains hopeful. “Our chances of eliminating Zamalek are around 30%, but we will fight hard to qualify,” Bernardi concluded.
