Former Zamalek SC star Tarek Yehia became emotional during a live television appearance following the club’s painful defeat to USM Alger in the final of the African Confederation Cup.
The Egyptian side lost the continental title after a dramatic penalty shootout that ended 8-7 in favour of the Algerian club, despite Zamalek winning the second leg 1-0 on Saturday evening.
Yehia appeared as a guest on presenter Ahmed Shobeir’s programme “Al-Nazer”, which was broadcast on Al-Nahar TV shortly after the final whistle.
However, the former player struggled to hide his emotions as the programme began. Deeply affected by the result, Yehia was unable to speak during the opening moments of the broadcast and eventually broke down in tears on air.
The emotional reaction forced Shobeir to pause the programme and cut to a commercial break as the former Zamalek star attempted to regain composure.
The defeat marked a painful end to Zamalek’s Confederation Cup campaign after the Egyptian club fought back in the return leg to level the aggregate score. Zamalek entered the second leg trailing after the first meeting in Algeria but managed to secure a 1-0 victory at home, forcing the final to be decided by penalties.
Despite their efforts, the Cairo-based side fell short in the shootout, with USM Alger eventually securing the trophy after a tense and closely contested finale.
Yehia’s emotional response reflected the disappointment felt by many connected to the club following the loss of the continental title. The former midfielder is regarded as one of Zamalek’s well-known former players and has remained closely associated with the club since retiring from football.
The scenes on live television quickly highlighted the emotional weight of the occasion, particularly given the dramatic nature of the final and the narrow margin by which the Egyptian side were defeated.
Zamalek supporters had hoped the second-leg victory would complete a comeback after the difficult first encounter in Algeria. Instead, the match ended in heartbreak as the team came within a single kick of lifting the trophy.
The final itself was tightly balanced across both legs, with neither side able to establish complete control. Zamalek’s win in the return fixture restored parity, but the penalty shootout ultimately proved decisive.
For Yehia, the defeat appeared especially difficult to process. His visible distress during the live broadcast underlined the emotional connection many former players continue to have with the club and its fortunes on the continental stage.
