ALEXANDRIA - It is payback time for Zamalek when they host TP Mazembe this Sunday evening in a 2014 CAF Champions League Group A clash in Alexandria. Mazembe beat their Egyptians hosts 1-0 in an ill-tempered Group A match on June 8 in Lubumbashi to see the two sides exchange places on the table. The DR Congo side head into match-day four enjoying a two point lead of Group A on six points while Zamalek are bottom with three points as they seek justice at home this weekend. However, Zamalek coach Mido will be without three players after CAF suspended them for assaulting Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey whom they alleged favoured Mazembe in the first leg meeting. Mauritanian striker Dominque Da Silva has been handed a three-match ban for his part in assaulting the referee in that match. Also missing following that Lubumbashi incident are reserve goalkeeper Abdelrehim Mahmoud who is serving a one match suspension and midfielder Hazem Mohamed Emam has been slapped a two-match ban. Mido, though, remains positive despite the trios absence that they cannot drop any points in the first of two successive Group A home games over the next three weeks. “We have three group matches to play - two at home - and positive results in all of them will guarantee us a semifinals place,” Mido said. Meanwhile, Mazembe do not have a bad record away against Zamalek and actually beat the latter 2-1 in a Group B match in the same competition in their very last meeting in Egypt in the 2012 edition in Cairo. Mazembe have no injury problems although coach Patrice Carteron will be a little concerned with his lack of bite by his striker especially in their final training game on Wednesday evening in Tunis where they lost 3-2 to Tunisian club Avenir Sportif de La Marsa en route to Egypt.
