CAF Confederation Cup
VIDEO: ENYIMBA, OTHERS IN FAIRY TALES AND COMEBACKS ON THE ROAD TO SEMIS
Nigeria’s Enyimba and three other clubs have titanic battles on Sunday as the second legs of the CAF Confederation Cup hold.
With two sides on the brink of last four places after convincing away victories, there will be more to watch on Sunday when the second leg matches of the CAF Confederation Cup 2019/20 quarterfinals take place across the continent
Moroccan side Hassania Agadir and Egyptian side Pyramids have an obvious advantage when they entertain Libya’s Al Nasr and Zambia’s Zanaco respectively, having won away from home by wide margins. Meanwhile, last season’s losing finalists RS Berkane will host Al Masry having held them to an away draw; the same scenario for Guinea’s Horoya against Nigerian visitors Enyimba.
The aggregate winners will progress to reach the semifinals, with hopes of a maiden CAF Confederation Cup title the biggest inspiration for the octet.
Pyramids (Egypt) – Zanaco (Zambia) (3-0)
(Sunday 08.03.2020 – 13:00 GMT, Cairo)
The debutants’ fairytale seems to have another chapter looming, as Pyramids returned from Lusaka with a three goal lead over Zanaco to put a leg into the last four in their first ever CAF appearance. Veteran Abdullah Elsaid put the cherry on top of the cake in Zambia, after Ali Gabr and Mohamed Farouk scored in the opening half, as Pyramids cruised to yet another away victory, their seventh in a row in this campaign.
Despite the fact that they are having their debut continental participation, Pyramids have set themselves as title favorites. Zanaco are facing an uphill to climb at the Cairo based 30 June Stadium where they need to score at least three unanswered goals to force the game into a shootout. They have to do so against a team that just conceded three times in six CAF home games this season.
Horoya (Guinea) – Enyimba (Nigeria) (1-1)
(Sunday 08.03.2020 – 16:00 GMT, Conakry)
Boniface Haba came from the bench to score 20 minutes from time and cancel Augustine Oladapo’s opener for Enyimba, as Horoya came back from Aba with a precious away 1-1 draw. Two times African champions Enyimba now have to score in Conakry if they are to reach the CAF Confederation Cup semifinal for the second time, after 2018 when they lost to eventual champions Raja of Morocco.
Horoya look favorites to finish the job at their home, Stade du 28 Septembre, where they have won all their 6 CAF matches this season. After reaching the quarterfinals of the premier CAF Champions League in the last two seasons, “H.A.C” are targeting a further step in the second tier continental competition this season.
Hassania Agadir (Morocco) – Al Nasr (Libya) (5-0)
(Sunday 08.03.2020 – 16:00 GMT, Agadir)
Mission looks done and dusted for Hassania Agadir who returned from Egyptian capital Cairo with a five goal lead over hosts Al Nasr. Karim El Berkaoui’s hat-trick coupled with Malick Cisse’s brace gave “HUSA” a commanding away lead that they look poised to defend at home and grab their semifinal ticket.
Al Nasr who are forced to play away from their Benghazi base due to security concerns in Libya reached the quarterfinals for the first time in their history, and were hoping of a further step. But they had to wake up against a resolute Hassania side, that are looking for their first ever continental glory after being eliminated from last season’s quarterfinals against eventual champions Zamalek of Egypt.
RS Berkane (Morocco) – Al Masry (Egypt) (2-2)
(Sunday 08.03.2020 – 19:00 GMT, Berkane)
After last season’s heartbreaking final defeat on penalties, RS Berkane are aiming for another shot on the second tier continental club competition yet again. They are one step away from the semifinals, after returning from Egypt with a 2-2 away draw against Al Masry.
Veteran Mohssine Iajour scored a brace before and after Muftah Taktak and an own goal from his goalkeeper Zouheir Laaroubi, as the Suez duel between both sides ended in a 2-2 draw; a result that may favor “The Oranges” to settle things at Stade Municipal de Berkane. Al Masry need to score and avoid conceding away if they are to repeat their 2018 feat when they reached the semis before bowing to DR Congo’s AS Vita then.
-CAF
A high-stakes Moroccan derby between Olympique de Safi and Wydad Casablanca will headline the quarter-final stage of the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup, following Tuesday’s draw in Cairo.
The draw ceremony, conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), mapped out the path to the final for the eight remaining contenders, setting up intriguing North African and Central African showdowns.
All-Moroccan Clash Guarantees Semi-Final Spot
Olympique de Safi will host Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of their tie, ensuring that Morocco will have at least one representative in the semi-finals. The clash pits two sides familiar with each other domestically, adding extra intensity to what is already a decisive knockout encounter.
Egyptian and Algerian Heavyweights in Action
Egyptian giants Zamalek SC will begin their campaign away to Congo’s AS Otoho, a tie that sees the five-time African champions seeking another continental crown.
Meanwhile, Al Masry SC will host Algeria’s CR Belouizdad in the first leg, in what promises to be a tightly contested North Africa battle.
In another compelling fixture, AS Maniema Union of the Democratic Republic of Congo will take on Algeria’s USM Alger, as the Congolese side looks to capitalise on home advantage in the opening leg.
Quarter-Final Fixtures
- QF1: Al Masry (Egypt) vs CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
- QF2: Olympique de Safi (Morocco) vs Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
- QF3: AS Otoho (Congo) vs Zamalek SC (Egypt)
- QF4: AS Maniema Union (DR Congo) vs USM Alger (Algeria)
The quarter-final first legs are scheduled for 15 March, with return fixtures set for 22 March.
Semi-Final Pathway Confirmed
The draw also determined the semi-final bracket:
- SF1: Winner of AS Maniema Union vs USM Alger will host the first leg against the winner of Olympique de Safi vs Wydad Casablanca.
- SF2: Winner of Al Masry vs CR Belouizdad will host the first leg against the winner of AS Otoho vs Zamalek SC.
The semi-finals will be played on 12 April (first leg) and 19 April (second leg).
The team advancing from the semi-finals will host the first leg of the final on 9 May, with the decisive second leg scheduled for 16 May.
With regional rivalries, heavyweight pedigrees, and emerging contenders all in the mix, the knockout stage of the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup promises high drama as clubs across North and Central Africa vie for continental glory.
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct the quarter-final draws for the 2025/26 editions of its two flagship interclub competitions — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup — on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo.
The CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final draw is scheduled to begin at 13:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League quarter-final draw at 14:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT).
The ceremonies will be broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube platform, CAF TV, allowing fans across the continent and beyond to follow proceedings in real time.
Road to the Finals Takes Shape
The draws will determine not only the quarter-final pairings but also the pathway to the finals in both competitions, effectively mapping out the remaining knockout journey for Africa’s elite clubs.
With the group stages concluded, the quarter-finals mark the beginning of direct elimination football — a phase traditionally defined by tactical discipline, squad depth and mental resilience. Clubs will be keenly watching the draw to gauge potential heavyweight clashes or favourable routes to the semi-finals.
In the Champions League, former title holders and emerging contenders alike will be hoping to avoid early confrontations against continental heavyweights. Similarly, in the Confederation Cup, where competitive balance has grown in recent seasons, the draw could produce intriguing North-South or West-East showdowns.
Strategic Importance for Clubs
Beyond sporting prestige, progression to the latter stages of CAF competitions carries significant financial incentives, enhanced continental ranking points and increased global visibility. With African club football enjoying expanded broadcast reach and commercial partnerships, success in these tournaments has become both a sporting and economic objective.
Hosting the draws at the Egyptian FA headquarters in Cairo reinforces the city’s status as a nerve centre of African football administration, as clubs await clarity on their next assignments in what promises to be a decisive knockout phase of the 2025/26 campaign.
All eyes will now turn to Cairo as Africa’s road to continental glory becomes clearer.
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CAF Confederation Cup
Zamalek, Kaizer Chiefs Drawn Together as CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage Unveiled
The draw for the group phase of this season’s African Confederation Cup conducted in Johannesburg on Monday:
Group A: USM Alger (Algeria), Djoliba (Mali), Olympique Safi (Morocco), San Pedro (Ivory Coast)
Group B: Azam (Tanzania), Maniema Union (DR Congo), Nairobi United (Kenya), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
Group C: Chabab Belouizdad (Algeria), AS Otoho (Congo) Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), Stellenbosch (South Africa)
Group D: Al Masry (Egypt), Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa), Zamalek (Egypt), Zesco United (Zambia)
The top two finishers in each of the four groups advance to the quarter-finals in March.
The group phase starts on Sunday November 23 and will continue through to mid-February.
-Reuters
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