Tomorrow, in the “return” final of the CAF Cup: Chaabani’s pedigree meets Gomes’ ambitions

HIBAPRESS-RABAT-CAF As RS Berkane and Zamalek SC prepare to face each other in the second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final, the two coaches vying for the title – Moiene Chaabani and José Manuel Gomes – became the center of attraction thanks to their tactical acumen. Chaabani, the seasoned Tunisian tactician, finds himself on the verge of winning the coveted title, strengthened by the 2-1 advantage gained in the first leg. Since taking charge of Berkane in February 2024, Chaabani has orchestrated an impressive journey, guiding the team to 8 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats in 15 matches in all competitions. His team notably remains undefeated in the Confederation Cup, with 3 wins and 2 draws. Chaabani’s wealth of experience, coupled with his previous successes at Esperance Sportive de Tunis, where he won two consecutive TotalEnergies CAF Champions League titles (2017-18, 2018-19) and five World Cup titles champion of Tunisia, make him a formidable force on the touchline. Berkane’s journey to the final included victories against USM Alger, and Chaabani is now focused on leading his team to its third title in history (2019-20, 2021-22). The second leg will take place at the Cairo International Stadium, where a win or draw will secure the trophy for Berkane and cement Chaabani’s status as one of the most decorated coaches in African football. On the opposing bench, Zamalek SC face an uphill task, trailing 2-1, but a comeback victory would secure their second Confederation Cup title. The Egyptian giants had already triumphed in the 2018-19 edition, beating Berkane on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate scoreline. Under the leadership of Portuguese coach José Manuel Gomes, who took charge in February, Zamalek recorded 8 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses, including a defeat against Al Ahly SC in the Egyptian Cup final. However, Gomes remains undefeated in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, with 4 wins and 2 draws in 6 matches, including a 3-0 semi-final win over Dreams FC. To win his first title with Zamalek and in Africa, Gomes must engineer a second leg victory at the Cairo International Stadium. His previous major honor was a Super Cup triumph with Al Ahli Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. A victory would represent a significant achievement for Gomes and Zamalek, as they look to overturn the deficit and win the Confederation Cup title, setting the stage for a thrilling clash of tactical acumen between the experienced Chaabani and the ambitious Gomes.