We knew that the explanation was going to be hot in every sense of the word. As part of the 2nd round of the African Champions League, the African Club and Zamalek of Cairo had already met during a first round in Rades, two weeks ago. The match then turned in favor of the Tunisians following their 4-2 success in Rades.
So far everything is fine and we therefore expected a hot grip for the return match in Cairo. In Tunis, coach Zamalkaoui, Houssem Hassan had even launched the “hostilities” in his own way by exhorting Zamalek supporters to bring hell to life for clubists or even invade the field on the return.
Why will so much hate say? Because three clubists’ supporters went down to the Rades lawyer, interrupting the match for a few minutes.
But from there that Hassan’s call was heard, it had to be seen to believe it!
On Saturday, the African club and the Zamalek therefore ended up in a stadium in Cairo full to crack and where 80,000 Egyptian supporters and some 400 Tunisian supporters piled up.
The match is hot, exciting and very committed. Zamalek marks, the African club equalizes, then Zamalek takes up the advantage just before half-time. At 1-2, the clubists were qualified for the 1/8th finals of the LCA. Clinging another goal would have eliminated them.
While the Algerian referee of the meeting had added 6 minutes of additional time, Zamalek scored an irregular goal in the 90 ‘+2. It is madness in the Egyptian camp that attacks man in black.
Chaos and confusion scenes
The game resumes but not for long. Hundreds and then thousands of Egyptian supporters invade the field, thus interrupting the match. The situation deteriorates very quickly on the lawn where the police shine by their absence. It’s total chaos! The referee is protected by the stadiers while the crowd wants to lynch him.
But the worst is to come with pseudo-supporters who attack clubists directly. We really fear the worst when we notice that many elements of the club delegation are missing.
Scattered in the stadium, they will not escape the vindictive of the Zamalkaouis. Boubakerzitouni, the goalkeeper coach was injured in his hand, Hassen Baâyou, the team delegate, is injured in the eye. Captain Wissem Yahia, is hit in the head. The rehash, Alexis, Souissi are all affected. But this is the case of Aymen Soltani, a new Clubist recruit which remains the most worrying since it was transported urgently to a hospital.
The confusion is such that no one can be definitively fixed on the fate of Tunisians, players, officials or even supporters.
