Zamalek, the two-time African Confederation Cup champion, gained a valuable 1-1 draw against Otoho from Congo in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Saturday. The match saw Otoho initially take the lead with a well-placed shot from Charles Atibo in the 13th minute, but Zamalek equalized through Palestinian striker Oday Al-Dabbagh, who capitalized on an excellent long pass from teammate Ahmed Rabi. The draw sets the stage for an intriguing return leg to be held in Cairo next week.

The match was closely contested, with Zamalek's efforts highlighted by a disallowed goal from their striker Seifeddine Jaziri in the 48th minute, which was overturned after a VAR check found him offside. This decision added another layer of drama to the encounter, showcasing the importance of precise officiating in tightly contested matches. Zamalek expressed confidence in their chances for advancing to the semifinals after this draw, especially given their strong overall performance in the group stage where they finished first in Group D with 11 points.

With the return match scheduled for March 22 in Cairo, Zamalek's rich history and previous accolades in the competition bolster their position as favorites to progress further. The team has previously won the Confederation Cup in both 2019 and 2020, and fans will be hopeful that their experience can guide them through to the semifinal stage once again, particularly on home turf where they are expected to have strong support from their audience.