Kenya U20 assistant captain Baron Ochieng’ could not hide his joy after finally making his much-anticipated debut for Egyptian giants Zamalek SC during their emphatic 6-0 demolition of Somalia Premier League side Dekedaha FC in the CAF Confederation Cup final round preliminary first leg at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday night.
The talented right-back, who joined Zamalek in the off-season transfer window from SportPesa League side Sofapaka FC, came on in the 61st minute to replace Egyptian international Omar Gaber.
His introduction was met with applause from the home fans as he became the latest Kenyan player to feature in continental football for a North African powerhouse.
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Ochieng’, who enjoyed a remarkable season with Sofapaka last campaign registering 18 goal contributions was instrumental in his former club’s attacking play, earning him attention from top African clubs before sealing a dream move to Zamalek.
His debut comes as a huge milestone in his young career, marking his first-ever appearance in continental club football.
Zamalek were ruthless from the first whistle, dominating every department against Dekedaha. Ahmed Sherif opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after a clever assist from Brazilian playmaker Juan Bezerra, before Bezerra himself got on the scoresheet with a well-placed strike in the 34th minute to make it 2-0.
Five minutes later, Amr Nasser added a stunning third from outside the box to give the Egyptian side a comfortable cushion heading into the break.
Kenya U20 defender Baron Ochieng’ elated after making Zamalek debut
The dominance continued after halftime, with substitute Seifeddine Jaziri extending the lead in the 55th minute after combining neatly with Bezerra.
Bezerra capped off a man-of-the-match performance by netting his second in the 77th minute, showing composure and flair to dribble past the goalkeeper before lifting the ball into the net.
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Seif Gaafar completed the rout seven minutes before time, tapping home from close range to seal an emphatic 6-0 win.
Ochieng’, who looked confident and composed after coming on, expressed his delight in an interview with SportPesa Blog.
It feels great; I have been waiting for this moment since I came here,” he said.
Making my debut with such a big win and in a major competition like this is special. I’m looking forward to more opportunities and to making history with this great club.”
The result puts Zamalek in a commanding position ahead of the return leg, which will also be played in Cairo on Friday, October 24, at the Al Salam Stadium.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) approved Zamalek’s request to host both legs in Egypt after Dekedaha agreed not to play their home match in Somalia due to logistical challenges and unavailability of CAF approved stadium for the match.
With one foot firmly in the group stage, Zamalek will now aim to maintain their form as they target another deep run in the tournament they last won in the 2023–24 season.
For Baron Ochieng’, this debut marks the beginning of what promises to be a bright career at one of Africa’s most successful clubs.