CAF Confederation Cup
CAF Confederation Cup Chaos: Algerian Fans Trigger Pitch Invasion as Safi Semi-final Delayed
The CAF Confederation Cup semi-final second leg between Olympique de Safi and USM Alger descended into chaos on Sunday evening after a pitch invasion by visiting supporters forced a significant delay to kick-off at the Al Massira Stadium.
Originally scheduled for 8:00 p.m., the decisive encounter eventually began at 9:20 p.m., following a 1-hour and 20-minute disruption caused by crowd trouble attributed to sections of the Algerian supporters.
Disorder Before Kick-off
Tensions escalated just minutes before kick-off when a large number of fans surged onto the pitch, overwhelming security personnel and creating scenes of confusion inside the stadium.
A sea of red as Algerian supporters invade the pitch
Eyewitnesses reported that the disorder began in the section occupied by visiting supporters, with acts of hooliganism including the throwing of chairs and attacks directed at local fans and members of the press.
The situation quickly deteriorated, forcing match officials and players from both teams to abandon the field as safety concerns took precedence.
Teams React as Calm Is Restored
While Olympique de Safi players maintained their warm-up routines amid the uncertainty, their Algerian counterparts retreated to the dressing room and were slow to return to the pitch even after order was gradually restored.
Officials from the Confederation of African Football intervened, with the match security commissioner ultimately confirming the revised kick-off time.
USM Alger players only re-emerged close to 9:00 p.m., raising questions among observers about the visitors’ approach in the aftermath of the disturbances.
A Night Meant for History Disrupted
For Olympique de Safi, the fixture represented one of the most significant matches in the club’s history, marking a remarkable run in their debut continental campaign.
However, the focus shifted from football to security management, as organisers battled to regain control of the stadium and ensure conditions were safe for play.
Witnesses described the incident as unprecedented at the venue, with the scale of the pitch invasion disrupting pre-match preparations and creating an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty.
CAF Set to Act
The Confederation of African Football is expected to open a formal review into the incidents, with disciplinary measures likely to follow.
Sunday’s events have reignited concerns about crowd control and supporter behaviour in high-stakes continental fixtures, echoing previous disturbances seen in major African competitions.
For Moroccan football authorities and fans alike, the hope is that firm action will be taken to prevent a recurrence of such scenes and to protect the integrity of the game.
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Egyptian giants Zamalek qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup final after a 0-0 draw with Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria in Friday’s semi-final second leg, ensuring a 1-0 aggregate triumph.
Zamalek won the away leg in Algiers last week.
The Cairo club did have the ball in the net in the first half of the return when Palestinian striker Oday Dabbagh thought he had opened the scoring, but a VAR review found the Egyptians were offside.
Zamalek have won the Confederation Cup twice, in 2019 and 2024, and will be chasing a ninth continental title in next month’s two-legged final, where they take on either USM Alger or Morocco’s Olympic Safi, who play the second leg of their semi-final on Sunday. The first leg in Algeria last weekend ended goalless.
-Reuters
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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 Chaos: Algerian Fans Trigger Pitch Invasion as Safi Semi-final Delayed
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