The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have named Morocco legend Mohamed Timoumi and Egypt’s Moamen Zakaria as ambassadors for the Total CAF Champions League 2019/20 final, scheduled for 6 November 2020.
The appointment of the duo is in recognition of their achievements and contribution to the development of the game across the continent.
It will be the first time in recent memory that CAF has named Ambassadors for the final of the premier continental club championship. As part of their role, they will be involved in promotional and media activities amongst others as the curtains to the end of the season folds up.
Timoumi, unarguably one of the finest midfielders of his generation had a distinguished career winning the CAF Champions League in 1985 with FAR Rabat and participating at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico serving the highlight.
He was born in Rabat on 15 January 1960. He started his career in US Touarga at the age of 18 before moving to FAR Rabat in 1984, where he won the African Cup of Champion Clubs (now CAF Champions League) in 1985.
After excelling with Morocco at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico when the Atlas Lions became the first African side to reach the second round, he moved to Spanish side Murcia. After one season, he went to Belgium to play for Lokeren. In 1989, he returned home to don the colors of OC Khouribga. Timoumi later played in Oman for Al Suwaiq, before returning to FAR Rabat, where he retired in 1995.
On his part, Zakaria was born in Sohag on 12 April 1988. He started in the youth ranks of Cairo giants Al Ahly before joining El Entag El Harby in 2009. He later played for Al Masry and ENPPI. In 2013 Zakaria moved on loan to Zamalek where he won two Egyptian Cup titles. He joined Al Ahly in January 2015, winning four Egyptian Premier League diadems and a host of domestic titles with the Red Devils. He had a brief loan spell with Saudi side Al Ahli Jeddah in 2018.
Zakaria had his career promising cut short after being diagnosed with the rare neurological disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2019.
ALS is a nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function. In this disease, nerve cells break down, which reduces functionality in the muscles that they supply. The cause is unknown.
Liverpool forward and fellow Egyptian Mohamed Salah honoured the midfielder with his celebration after scoring a hat-trick in the Reds’ 4-3 victory over Leeds United on the opening day of the 2020/21 season of the English Premier League on Saturday 12 September.
Meanwhile the competition returns on 17 October 2020 in the Casablanca, with Wydad playing hosts to Al Ahly, while Raja faces Zamalek 24-hours later. The return legs take place on 23 and 24 October respectively in Egypt.
