Al Masry coach gives verdict on Chiefs penalty, qualification hopes | OneFootball

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Al Masry boss on Chiefs opener, hopes of sealing progression

Photo: Al Masry SC

Al Masry SC head coach Nabil Kouki has shared his verdict on Kaizer Chiefs' penalty in their 2-1 defeat in the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday.

The Soweto giants climbed to the summit of the table with the Egyptians' scalp, with one of their goals coming from the spot, thanks to Flavio Da Silva.

Kouki is not convinced with Chiefs' penalty, but refrained from blaming the referee for his team's shortcomings, as he acknowledges the quality Amakhosi showed on the day.

“It was a big game, we knew from the beginning it would be a hard one. The first 15 minutes we were controlling well, passing, taking [control of] the possession until the penalty came - I'm not so convinced about it,” he said.

"But after the penalty we stayed for like 10 minutes absent from the game, then we scored. Unfortunately, we received a goal after five minutes from scoring our equaliser, but we lost the game at the end of the day but we still have the last round to go through.

"I cannot say the referee has the whole responsibility or responsible [for our loss], Kaizer Chiefs made a very good game. But the penalty is a big decision to take, I can see in the pictures that my player put his hands behind his back. But I cannot say the referee took the game from us. Kaizer Chiefs played a good game also.

On qualification hopes ahead of their finale against ZESCO United in Egypt, the Tunisian mentor is optimistic his side can progress to the knockout stages, with Chiefs set to lock horns with Zamalek SC.

“Mathematically, surely we have a big chance to go through. The two teams that we are [up against] are facing each other in the last round, so for us we just need to win. We will see the calculations of how many goals that we will need in the next match,” Kouki added.

Masry sit third with seven points, while second-placed Zamalek have eight points, as table-toppers Chiefs have picked up 10 points.