Ethiopian flag bearers Wolaitta Dicha have registered the biggest upset of the first round of the CAF Total Confederations Cup when they defeated Egyptian giants Zamalek 4-3 on penalty shootout. Zamalek won the duel 2-1 on a regular time to tie the aggregate score at 3-3 before the Bees of Tona emerged victorious on penalties to storm into the second qualifying round.
Wolaitta Dicha took a slander lead from the first leg to Cairo as head coach Zenebe Fisseha made only change to the side that pip Zamalek 2-1 in Hawassa. Amrela Deletata replaced Zelalem Esyassu in the midfield while the homers made five changes. Coach Ehab Galal opted to partner Nana Poku and Bassem Morsy while Emad Fathi, who struck Zamalek’s goal in Hawassa, was benched.
The home side piled on the pressure from the onset as they use the flanks to launch their offenses on Woliatta Dicha, who were more defensive in the first interval. Zamalek had three spurred chance that could have given them an early lead. Ghanaian import Poku rose high as his header went inches wide. Morsy, who missed the first leg tie due to injury, skied his effort before another Poku’s effort sailed over the bar. The visitors could not register a single shot with the defensive approach hindering them to go forward. Kenyan match official Omweno awarded a rather harsh penalty to the homers when relay showed the ball struck defender Tesfu Elias’s back. The White Knights broke the deadlock at stroke of half time when Ahmed Mabdouly successfully converted the resulting spot kick. The controversial penalty frustrated Wolaitta Dicha player and they were lucky enough to see Morsy missing an absolute free header inside the area.
Knowing an away goal is needed the Bees of Tona performed better after the resumption. Nonetheless they found two goals down in the 47th minute after some sloppy defending gave Mabdouly time and space to complete his brace. Wolaitta Dicha players pushed to pull one back and waited only for four minutes. Zamalek goalie Ahmed El-Shenway failed to parry away Bezabeha Meleyo’s delivery to the danger zone as Abdulsemed Ali capitalizes on the blunder to head home from close range. With the aggregate score being tied up Zamalek dominated the proceedings but they couldn’t break Dicha’s defensive line. Wendwesen was the hero of the interval as he pulled off a great save to deny Zamalek from extending their lead.
After the end of the regular time both sides headed to penalty shootouts as Wolaitta Dicha players Teklu Tafesse, Abdulsemed Ali, Temesgen Duba and Arafat Djako converted their penals. Zamalek midfielders Abdelaziz and Ayman Hefny missed their repsetive penalty kicks. Abelaziz saw his effort being saved by Wendwesen.
Wolaitta Dicha are the first Ethiopian side to eliminate Zamalek from a CAF club competition. Mekelakeya, Ethiopia Bunna and Kidus Giorgis all tried to achieve the fit but were futile. The Sodo based side will be facing a team that is demoted to the Confederations Cup from the Champions League in the last qualifying round.
The draw will take place in Cairo on the coming Wednesday. Ethiopia will be having to representative in the second tier CAF club toureny after KCCA of Uganda beat Kids Giorgis in the last qualifying round of the CAF Champions League.
