Zamalek enjoyed a 1-0 victory over CS Sfaxien in Cairo on Saturday night, in their Group B opener of the 2015 Confederation Cup.

The ‘White Knights’ left it late to secure the three points against the Tunisians, with 86th minute substitute Abdoulaye Cissé scoring the winner on the stroke of full time.

The locals dominated the first half, but without creating many chances against a very solid Tunisian defence. And the two sides went into the break goalless at Petro Sport Stadium.

However, Zamalek were a much more dangerous outfit in the second half, under the technical leadership of playmaker Ayman Hefni.

Midfielder Ahmed Tafwik headed just wide a cross from Ahmed Tolba in the 49th minute, while Mostafa Fathi also lacked precision in the 66th minute following great work from Hefni.

Boosted by the entrance of Ahmed Ali, Youssef Obama and Abdoulaye Cissé in the last thirty minutes, Zamalek came close to breaking the deadlock when Ali was denied by Sfax keeper Rami Jeridi, before ultimately taking the lead in the final minutes of the game through Burkina Faso international Cissé, who tapped home a cross from Omar Gaber at the near post.

The Egyptian giants move level at the top of the group on three points with South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, who sealed a 1-0 win over AC Léopards in Dolisie on Saturday afternoon.

Zamalek 1 (0) – 0 (0) CS Sfaxien

Zamalek: Ahmed El-Shennawy, Hazem Emam, Ali Gabr, Mohamed Koffi, Hamada Tolba (Abdoulaye Cisse 86), Ahmed Tawfik (Youssef Obama 70), Ibrahim Salah, Omar Gaber, Ayman Hefni, Mostafa Fathi, Khaled Qamar (Ahmed Ali 59)

CS Sfaxien: Rami Jeridi, Zied Derbeli, Yassine Meriah, Maher Hannachi, Slim Mahjbi, Hamza Hadda, Wassim Kammoun (Zied Ziedi 70), Houssem Louati (Ghazi Challouf 91), Moncer, Borhen Hkimi, Brahim El Bahri (Taha Khenissi 82)

Zamalek are playing host to CS Sfaxien in Cairo on Saturday, in their Group B opener of the 2015 Confederation Cup.

The five-time African champions are set to carry their impressive domestic form into the continental stage, as they are eyeing a first ever crown in Africa’s second-tier club competition.

With a nine-point lead over arch-rivals Al Ahly at the top of the Egyptian Premier League with six more games to go, the ‘White Knights’ are closing in on their first national title since the 2003-2004 season.

To book their place in the last eight of the tournament, the Cairo giants cruised past Rayon Sports of Rwanda before sealing 3-2 aggregate wins over Morocco’s FUS Rabat and SM Sanga Balende of DR Congo.

Three-time winners of the Confederation Cup (2007, 2008 and 2013), CS Sfaxien will be looking for their fourth star in the competition.

The Tunisians defeated Ivoirian powerhouse ASEC Mimosas 3-1 on aggregate to reach the group stage, after crashing out of the CAF Champions League against MC El Eulma on penalties.

It is the first time the two sides are meeting in the Confederation Cup, though their paths already crossed in Africa’s foremost tournament.

The Egyptians recorded a 3-1 aggregate victory over CS Sfaxien in the first round of the 1984 edition of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, before sending the Tunisians packing again in the last four of the 1996 tournament on penalties.

The match will kick off at Petro Sport Stadium in Cairo at 21h30 CAT on Saturday 27 June.