Five time African champions Zamalek SC became the first team to qualify for the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after beating Kenyan champions Tusker FC 4-0 at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Friday.

The victory at home secured a 5-0 aggregate score for the White Knights having won 1-0 in the first leg in Nairobi last Saturday.

Youssef “Obama” Fayed scored a brace for Zamalek as they dominated the Kenyan side who now drop into the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup play-off round.

The hosts were 2-0 up after just 20 minutes with Obama and Seifeddine Jaziri scoring.

Obama opened the scoring after 11 minutes when he headed into an empty net after Tusker keeper Patrick Matasi failed in his bid to pluck out a freekick from the right.

Seven minutes later, they were 2-0 up after Jaziri nodded the ball home past Matasi after the home side turned possession in midfield, quickly playing the ball out wide for an inviting cross into the box.

Zamalek were comfortable with the lead and controlled the game with the visitors chasing. They had a chance at the stroke of halftime off a Deogratius Ojok freekick but he curled it straight to the keeper.

Tusker came back better in the second half and started brighter with the introduction of John Njuguna giving them life in attack.

But, Zamalek were in crisp control and within two minutes with quarter of an hour left, they had stamped their authority in the game with two quick goals.

Goalkeeper Patrick Matasi erred again, his effort coming off the line to clear the ball being futile and beaten by Ahmed Mostafa “Zizo” who crossed for Achraf Bencharki to tap home.

A minute later,Zizo provided a cross from the left which was once again tapped home by Obama unmarked at the backpost.

Soka25east.com