Zamalek have suspended striker Nasser Mansi from group training and referred him for an internal investigation following his celebration during their 1–0 victory over Rwanda’s APR FC in the CAF Champions League.
The Egyptian forward scored a late winner in Kigali on Friday, October 16, giving Zamalek a narrow advantage in the first leg of the second preliminary round. However, his actions after scoring have overshadowed his match-winning contribution.
Mansi reportedly removed his shirt and threw it to the ground after finding the net, prompting disciplinary action from the Cairo-based club.
Zamalek announced the decision on Saturday, October 17, confirming that head coach Moamen Gamal had ordered the striker’s suspension from group training until the investigation is completed.
The club’s football director, Abdel Nasser Mohamed, is expected to submit a report on the incident to the legal affairs department to facilitate the investigation. Mansi is due to face the committee after the team’s delegation returns from Rwanda.
Zamalek have not announced the full extent of any further punishment, with his return to group training expected to depend on the outcome of the disciplinary process.
The incident comes at a crucial stage of Zamalek’s campaign as they seek to secure a place in the CAF Champions League group stage. Mansi’s late strike proved decisive against APR, breaking the deadlock and handing the Egyptian side an important away victory.
The result leaves Zamalek in a favourable position ahead of the return leg in Cairo on Saturday, October 24, although APR will have an opportunity to overturn the deficit.
Mansi’s availability for the coming days will now be shaped by the club’s investigation, leaving uncertainty over when he will rejoin his teammates in training.
For Zamalek, the immediate priority is to resolve the disciplinary matter while preparing for the return fixture. The club have yet to disclose whether the investigation will lead to additional sanctions against the striker.
