CAF Confederation Cup
Confederation Cup’s last 8 standing know rout to title today
The draw for the quarter-finals of the 2024/25CAF Confederation Cup will take place in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, where the eight remaining sides will learn their path to the final.
The draw will be held at the world-class beIN SPORTS studios from 16h00 Cairo time (14h00 GMT).
The four group winners will be drawn against the four runners-up, though they cannot meet the team who advanced to the knockout stage from their pool. The draw for the semi-finals will be conducted at the same time.
Here is a look at the eight remaining teams in the competition.
GROUP WINNERS
SIMBA SC
Country: Tanzania
Coach: Fadlu Davids (South Africa)
Best finish: Quarter-finals 2021-22Simba will be hoping for their best-ever finish in the CAF Confederation Cup having topped their pool with an impressive haul of 13 points from a possible 18.
They were quarter finalists in 2021-22 and did reach the final of the of CAF Cup in 1993, but have yet to lift a continental title.
They have young South African coach Fadlu Davids in charge and he has impressed since joining in July 2024.
RS BERKANE
Country: Morocco
Coach: Mouin Chaâbani (Tunisia)
Best finish: Winners 2019-20, 2021-22The Moroccan side have enjoyed huge success in the CAF Confederation Cup in the recent past having been to four finals in the previous six seasons, winning two of those. Having been edged by Zamalek in the decider last year they will be keen to get back there again.
They managed 16 points in the pool stage, more than any other club and conceded only one goal in their six games
USM ALGER
Country: Algeria
Coach: Marcos Paquetá (Brazil)
Best finish: Winners 2022-23
USMAlger were champions as recently as 2022-23 and followed that up with a semi-final showing last season.
They have the form forward through the group stages in Ismaïl Belkacemi, who netted five goals as they managed 14 in all, the most of any team.
They have recently unveiled the Brazilian Marcos Paquetá as their new coach, who has a long history coaching in Africa, including with Zamalek and most recently CR Belouizdad.
ZAMALEK SC
Country: Egypt
Coach: José Peseiro (Portugal)
Best finish: Winners 2018–19, 2023–24
The reigning champions will be in search of back-to-back titles and breezed through the group stages unbeaten with 14 points from a possible 18.
They also have a new coach in former Nigeria tactician José Peseiro, who replaced Christian Gross in the last week.
The Portuguese is a former Al Ahly coach and led the Super Eagles to the final of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
GROUP RUNNERS-UP
AL MASRY FC
Country: Egypt
Coach: Ali Maher (Egypt)
Best finish: Semi-finals 2018Al Masry finished runners-up to Egyptian rivals Zamalek in their pool as they took nine points.
They were semi-finalists in this competition in 2018 but lost out to AS Vita Club and will be seeking to reach a first continental final this year.
They also reached the quarterfinals in both 2019-20 and 2021-22, but on both occasions lost out to Morocco’s RS Berkane.
ASEC MIMOSAS
Country: Cote d’Ivoire
Coach: Julien Chevalier (France)
Best finish: Semi-finals 2022-23ASEC Mimosas edged Senegalese side ASC Jaraaf on head-to-head to claim second spot in their pool behind USM Alger.
They had two wins, two draws and two defeats, boosted by a solid home record but not so flash on the road.
They reached the semi-finals in 2022-23 but lost out to USM Alger, who have become a familiar foe.
Their coach Julien Chevalier has been in charge of the side since 2019 and has developed a strong squad.
CS CONSTANTINE
Country: Algeria
Coach: Kheïreddine Madoui (Algeria)
Best finish: Second round 2014, 2016CS Constantine managed a strong pool campaign that garnered them 12 points but finished runners-up to Simba SC.
It is a good outcome for a club in its debut group stage campaign having suffered two second-round exits in 2014 and 2016. They are coached by Kheïreddine Madoui, who is in his second spell with the team.
STELLENBOSCH FC
Country: South Africa
Coach: Steve Barker (South Africa)
Best finish: DebutAmbitious Stellenbosch FC are in their maiden season in CAF Interclub football and came through a difficult pool by finishing runners-up to RS Berkane.
They are a team packed with good young talent, who will have been on a steep learning curve this season.
Their coach Steve Barker is the nephew of legendary former South Africa tactician Clive Barker and has developed a strong reputation in his own right.
-CAF
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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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