Stat Attack: Zamalek

Numbers you might not know. This week we focus the spotlight on the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup holders Zamalek of Egypt.

3 – The number of times that Zamalek represented Africa in the now-defunct Afro-Asian Cup which ran for 11 editions from 1986 to 1998. Zamalek’s two victories in 1987 over Furukwa Electric of Japan and in 1997 over Pohang Steelers from South Korea is the most by a single club. They also lost narrowly in 1994 on the away goals rule to Thai Farmers Bank.

8 – The number of continental club competition titles that Zamalek have won. They have had five successes in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, the last of which was in 2002, plus they also won the old-style African Cup Winners’ Cup in 2000. Their last two successes have both come in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, in the 2018/19 campaign and again last season. On both occasions they beat Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane in the final tie.

13 – The total number of times that Zamalek have participated in the group phase of the Champions League. They were among the eight clubs who competed in the inaugural edition in 1997 and finished runners-up in their group. But in those days, the group winners qualified directly for the final. Since then, semi-final and then quarter-final rounds have been introduced.

114 – The number of years since the founding of the club in January 1911. It was originally known as Qasr El Nile Club and very quickly became a symbol of resistance to Britain’s colonial presence in Egypt. They were the first-ever winners of Egyptian Cup in 1922 and since the Premier League was formed in 1948, they have spent every season in the top flight of the Egyptian game.

279 – The number of matches Zamalek have played in continental club competition before Sunday’s last group game in the Confederation Cup against Enyimba of Nigeria. They have 140 victories, 61 draws and 78 defeats with 431 goals scored and 254 conceded.