McLeish set for African debut against Union of Douala

Zamalek boss McLeish will be looking to end Zamalek's 14-year wait for a Champions League title when his side kick off their African campaign at Cameroon's Union de Douala.

Scottish boss Alex McLeish is set for his African debut at the Zamalek helm when his side visit Cameroon's Union de Douala in the CAF Champions League's first leg in round 32 on Sunday.

After guiding Zamalek to a convincing 2-0 league win over Arab Contractors last week, former English Premier League manager McLeish will be looking to mark his African debut with a positive result unlike in his first domestic game in charge.

Despite only been appointed as Zamalek's manager a few days earlier, McLeish decided to take full charge of Zamalek's league clash with El-Entag El-Harby, who eventually prevailed 3-1 against the league holders on 3 March.

But now after putting Zamalek back into winning ways against Contractors, McLeish will be looking to build on the league victory as his side kick-off their Champions League campaign.

The 57-year-old coach, however, did not seem to know much about the Cameroonians - whom he dubbed as "mysterious" as quoted by Zamalek's official website.

"Douala are a mysterious side," the ex-Rangers boss McLeish told the club's website.

"I can't talk much about the match, as I will be watching replays for their recent games to know their weaknesses and strengths."

On the other side, Douala President Franch Happi sounded confident ahead of the clash with Zamalek, asserting that his club will beat the Egyptian league holders.

"We are well prepared for Zamalek clash," Happi told Cameroon-info.net on Tuesday.

''We will have back all the players who missed the league game on Sunday. I am sure that we will beat Zamalek."

"We will win by the highest goal-margin. But it will be important to win the game without leaking any goals."

The only players who will miss the Zamalek clash against the five-time Cameroon champions Douala is forward Mahmoud 'Kahraba' and midfielder Ibrahim Abdel-khaleq due to respective injuries.

Should five-time African champions Zamalek, who won the last of their Champions League titles in 2002, march through - they will meet the winner of the match between Tunisia's Club Africain and Algerian side Algeria's MO Bejaia.