Stalemate in Tripoli: Al-Ittihad and Al Masry Share the Spoils as Confederation Cup Hangs in the Balance
On a tense Mediterranean evening at Tripoli International Stadium, Al-Ittihad and Al Masry played to a goalless draw that was long on grit but short on decisive action, leaving their CAF Confederation Cup fate delicately poised ahead of the climactic return leg in Egypt.
Before a fervent Libyan crowd, Al-Ittihad sought an early breakthrough, invigorated by recent form and buoyed by the memory of dispatching Wolaita Dicha in the previous round. Their intent was evident within the opening minutes—Nigerian midfielder Ikenna Clement nearly sent the home fans into rapture, dragging a left-footed effort just wide after seven minutes. Yet as the match settled, it was clear that this would be a night defined not by attacking extravagance but by the patience and discipline of two sides unwilling to cede an inch.
Al Masry, under the stewardship of Tunisian tactician Nabil Kouki, arrived in Tripoli with a pragmatic blueprint. Drawing confidence from a recent run in the Egyptian Premier League that included a narrow win at the National Bank of Egypt and two clean sheets in their last three matches, the Green Eagles relied on organization and defensive mettle. Kouki’s side sat deep, conceding possession and territory, but seldom composure. Throughout the first half, they stifled Al-Ittihad’s advances, forcing the hosts to test from distance more often than not.
Neither side managed to break the defensive spell before halftime, prompting adjustments in the second stanza. Kouki turned to his bench, introducing Kingsley Eduwo, Mido Gaber, and Bonheur Mugisha in search of a spark up front. Even so, clear chances remained elusive. The home team’s own substitutions—Ahmed Al-Bizi and Amar Bouna—were met by a steely visiting defense anchored by Baher El Mohamady and Amr El Saadawy. As the contest wore on, yellow cards to Ahmed Eid and Abderrahim Deghmoum underscored the growing physicality and nerves that typically accompany knockout football on the continent’s second-biggest stage.
Despite a handful of skirmishes near each box, neither goalkeeper was truly extended, and the scoreline remained unchanged through 90 anxious minutes. The final whistle left Al-Ittihad lamenting missed opportunities on home soil—a familiar feeling for a squad making its twelfth appearance in this competition but still seeking a breakthrough campaign. For Al Masry, the clean sheet and stubborn away performance served as confirmation of their evolution into a side capable of grinding out results beyond the Egyptian borders—a trait that took them to the quarterfinals last season before their run was ended by Simba SC’s penalty precision.
The draw maintains the status quo in their Confederation Cup duel. Al-Ittihad’s strong showing in Tripoli extends their unbeaten start to the tournament, building on a dominant 3-1 aggregate win over Wolaita Dicha. Al Masry, meanwhile, can draw upon a pattern of steely resilience: the goalless draw marks their third shutout in five competitive matches, a testament to their defensive discipline but also a reminder of their continued struggles to convert possession into goals against resolute opposition.
Both clubs now turn their attention to the return leg at Suez Stadium on October 26, where a single moment—a set piece, an individual error, a flash of brilliance—will almost certainly decide who advances to the group stage and who sees their continental ambitions dashed before winter. The away-goals rule, or alternatively, the possibility of penalties, looms over the tie, amplifying every tactical decision and touch of the ball.
For Al-Ittihad, the challenge is clear: rediscover the attacking fluency that swept them past Ethiopian opposition last round and find a way to break down Masry’s formidable rearguard in Suez’s unfamiliar confines. For Al Masry, the equation is simple but daunting—transform defensive stoicism into attacking purpose at home, and seize the momentum that, for now, belongs to neither.
The scene is set for another dramatic Confederation Cup night, where margins will be thin and nerves tested. Both teams know only too well: continental progress is often measured in moments, not matches.