The Cairo club conceded two goals from the spot in Abidjan to conclude a 2-2 aggregate score line, before winning the tie on penalties.

The referee adjudged Beshir Al-Tabie to have handled the ball for the first penalty, but television replays proved there was not much in it.

"We were facing several obstacles, besides the high humidity, the referee certainly did not help us," Zamalek second man Helmi told Nile Sports TV after the game.

"It was a disastrous first penalty decision, and the second one was controversial as well."

"However, I admit we were not at our best, we should have played a better game despite the difficult conditions."

Veteran striker Abdul-Halim Ali, who netted the winning spot kick, also seemed to be unconvinced with the referee's performance.

"It was a very difficult game, we were punished by two unnecessary decisions from the referee, but thank God we won at last," said the Egypt international.

The Whites have got Angola's Interclube in the last 16 phase of the competition, where their run was ended last year.