CAF Confederation Cup
ENYIMBA DRAW TWO FORMER CHAMPIONS IN TOUGH CONFEDERATION LEAGUE FIXTURES
Enyimba of Nigeria are one of the three former African club champions drawn together in Group A of this season’s Confederation Cup. The two other elite league winners with Enyimba are Orlando Pirates and Algeria’s Entente Setif.
South Africa’s Orlando Pirates won the continental title in 1995 while Entente Setif just like Nigeria’s Enyimba, have won the crown twice.
They are joined in Group A by Libya’s Al Ahly Benghazi in the continent’s second-tier club competition.
The group-stage matches are due to begin next month with the top two in each group progressing to the quarter-finals.
- Group A: Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Enetente Setif (Algeria), Enyimba (Nigeria)
- Group B: Napsa Stars (Zambia), Coton Sport (Cameroon), JS Kabylie (Algeria), RS Berkane (Morocco)
- Group C: Jaaraf (Senegal), Salitas (Burkina Faso) CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) Etoile/Young Buffaloes
- Group D: Namungo/Primeiro Agosto, Nkana FC (Zambia), Pyramids (Egypt), Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane will continue the defence of their title in Group B alongside Zambia’s Napsa Stars, Coton Sport of Cameroon and Algeria’s JS Kabylie, who have also twice been African Champions.
The Confederation Cup’s most successful club is Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien, who have lifted the trophy three times, are in Group C and know they will definitely face with Senegal’s Jaaraf and Salitas of Burkina Faso.
The other team in the group will either be Etoile du Sahel or Eswatini’s Young Buffaloes, the second leg of their play-off takes place on Monday with the Tunisian side holding a 2-1 lead from the first leg.
There is one other match to be played to decide the final place in Group D with Tanzanian club Namungo the firm favourites to clinch the spot after beating Angola’s Primeiro Agosto 6-2 in the first leg on Sunday.
The tie was delayed when Covid-19 forced the game in Angola to be called off before the Confederation of African Football agreed that both games could be played in Tanzania.
Awaiting the winners in Group D are Zambia’s Nkana, Pyramids from Egypt and Moroccan side Raja Casablanca.
Confederation Cup play-off results – second legs:
- US Monastir (Tunisia) 1-0 Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
- 1-1 on aggregate Raja progress 6-5 on penalties
- Napsa Stars (Zambia) 2-2 Gor Mahia (Kenya)
- Napsa Stars progress 3-2 on aggregate
- DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo) 1-1 Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya)
- 2-2 on aggregate Ahly progress 8-7 on penalties
- Coton Sport (Cameroon) 1-0 Sonidep (Niger)
- Coton Sport progress 2-0 on aggregate
- Rivers Utd (Nigeria) 1-0 Enyimba (Nigeria)
- 1-1 on aggregate Enyimba progress 5-4 on penalties
- Orlando Pirates (South Africa) 1-0 Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)
- Pirates progress 4-0 on aggregate
- JS Kabylie (Algeria) 1-0 Stade Malien (Mali)
- 2-2 on aggregate Kabylie progress on away goals
- Pyramids (Egypt) 2-0 Racing Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
- Pyramids progress 4-0 on aggregate
- Jaraaf (Senegal) 1-0 Platinum (Zimbabwe)
- Jaraaf progress 2-0 on aggregate
- Entente Setif (Algeria) 0-0 Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
- Setif progress 2-1 on aggregate
- Salitas (Burkina Faso) 3-1 Bouenguidi (Gabon)
- Salitas progress 3-2 on aggregate
- Tihad Casablanca (Morocco) 2-1 Nkana (Zambia)
- Nkana progress 3-2 on aggregate
- 22/02/21: Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) v Young Buffaloes (Eswatini)
- Etoile lead 2-1 on aggregate
- AS Kigali (Rwanda) 1-1 CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
- Sfaxien progress 5-2 on aggregate
First leg:
- Primeiro Agosto (Angola) 2-6 Namungo (Tanzania) Caf ordered Primeiro to stage home leg in Tanzania after Angolan authorities prevented Namungo playing in Luanda last weekend
Bye:
- Renaissance Berkane (Morocco, holders)
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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