Masry strike late to break Chiefs hearts

Al Masry emerged as 2-1 winners over Kaizer Chiefs in their opening 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup Group D match played at the Suez Stadium in Suez, Egypt, on Sunday evening.

The victory saw the Green Eagles start their group stage campaign with a home win and coach Nabil Kouki's side will be looking to make it back-to-back victories when they travel to Zambia, where they are scheduled to lock horns with Zesco United on November 30.

Amakhosi, on the other hand, will be licking their wounds after conceding late in North Africa. Co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze will be determined to ensure that the Soweto giants return to winning ways when they host Al Masry's Egyptian rivals, Zamalek, on November 29.

Chiefs were under siege in the opening exchanges, with goalkeeper Brandon Petersen being forced to make two saves to deny the Green Eagles and Bradley Cross bravely making a crucial block inside the box in the opening 20 minutes of the encounter.

However, Chiefs grew gradually into the match and they started delivering crosses into the opposition's box for Etiosa Ighodaro to attack. The Nigerian centre forward connected with a cross from the right, but his header was well saved by goalkeeper Mahmoud Hamdy in stoppage time and the score was 0-0 at halftime.

The Green Eagles exerted pressure on Amakhosi after the restart and the hosts were awarded a penalty after Petersen had conceded a foul in the box. Bonheur Mugisha stepped up and the Rwanda international made no mistake as he fired past Petersen to hand Al Masry a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute.

The goal did not deter Chiefs as they searched forward in numbers and they levelled matters through Dillan Solomons, who netted in the 66th minute to make it 1-1 after a brilliant solo run. Substitutes Mfundo Vilakazi and Asanele Velebayi then saw their attempts by Hamdy as Amakhosi searched for a late winner.

It was heartbreaking for the South African giants when they conceded in the 87th minute after failing to clear a corner-kick. Mohamed Hashem pounced and fired home from close range to seal Masry's 2-1 victory over Chiefs on the night.

Masry 2 (Mugisha 59', Hashem 87')

Chiefs 1 (Solomons 66')

Al Masry: Hamdy, El Eraky, Sobhy, Hashim, Saadawy, Mugisha, Hamada (Aboul Kheir 86'), Ali (Bambo 77'), Deghmoum (Mansour 90'+1), Temine (El Shami 86'), Eduwo (El Armouty 77')

Chiefs Petersen, Cross, Miguel, Kwinika, Solomons, Mthethwa, Cele (Matlou 80'), Shabalala (Maboe 80'), Mmodi (Velebayi 63'), Du Preez (Vilakazi 63'), Ighodaro (Flavio 70')