CAF Confederation Cup
CAF CONFEDERATION CUP: RANGERS SEEK REVENGE ON ÉTOILE
BY APESIN ADEMOLA
Rangers blew their early lead in Sousse a week ago to return home empty-handed. The defeat – their first in the competition after seven matches in all – dragged the Flying Antelopes from top spot to third on the log.
Victory is all Rangers will seek today to improve their standing and shoot back to the heights of Group B, if current leaders CS Sfaxien fail to shine against Salitas in Ouagadougou.
After playing goalless with Salitas in the first leg, Sfaxien, one of the two Tunisian clubs in this group, top the table but are only one point ahead of both their compatriots Étoile and Rangers.
Group A features three Moroccan sides, two of them (RS Berkane and Hassania Agadir) setting the pace, while the third Raja Casablanca take the rear. Will leaders RS Berkane go soft on Raja to enable the reigning champions have a reason to cheer? The head-to-head clash with the Moroccan teams hold at Stade Municipal de Berkane with the home side having a bragging right after winning Casablanca 4-2 last week.
Berkane have acquired seven points in three matches as against four for Hassania Agadir and two each for Congo Republic’s AS Otôho and Raja.
Hassania Agadir are away to Congo Republic’s AS Otôho. In the first leg, Hassania Agadir won 2-1.
Group C remains open with Zambia’s Nkana leading by six points, while both ZESCO United of Zambia and Sudan’s Al-Hilal are two points adrift and Asante Kotoko of Ghana three points behind the leaders.
Ashante Kotoko receive Nkana in Kumasi and will recall their 1-3 loss in the first leg, while Al-Hilal, who played 1-1 in the reverse match, host ZESCO.
In Group D, log leaders Gor Mahia are away in Algeria against the team they have a two-point advantage over, while Petro de Luanda, who have the same four points with Hussein Dey, host Zamalek, who have been so disappointing. One of the powerhouses of African club football, Zamalek have posted only two draws in three matches to be at the foot of the table.
Gor Mahia had triumphed 2-0 over Hussein Dey, while Zamalek could only manage 1-1 at home to Petro de Luanda last Sunday.
Matchday 4 fixtures…
Group B:
- Rangers (Nigeria) v Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia) (first leg Étoile du Sahel 2-1) (2pm)
- Salitas FC (Burkina Faso) v CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) (first leg 0-0) (5pm)
Group A:
- AS Otôho (Congo Republic) v Hassania Agadir (Morocco) (first leg Hassania Agadir 2-1) (2pm)
- RS Berkane (Morocco) v Raja Casablanca (Morocco) (first leg RS Berkane 4-2) (8pm)
Group C:
- Ashante Kotoko SC (Ghana) v Nkana (Zambia) (first leg Nkana 3-1) (2pm)
- Al-Hilal (Sudan) v ZESCO United (Zambia) (first leg 1-1) (5pm)
Group D:
- Petro de Luanda (Angola) v Zamalek (Egypt) (first leg 1-1) (5pm)
- NA Hussein Dey (Algeria) v Gor Mahia (Kenya) (first leg Gor Mahia 2-0) (8pm)
Mean while, CS Constantine of Algeria came from behind twice at home to edge Ismaily of Egypt 3-2 Saturday and virtually clinch a CAF Champions League quarter-finals place.
The Algerians top Group C with 10 points, five-time trophy-holders TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo have seven, Club Africain of Tunisia four and Ismaily one.
Constantine, who reached the group phase of the elite African club competition for the first time this season, host Africain next Saturday and one point will seal a last-eight place.
Needing maximum points to have any hope of survival, Ismaily were ahead within 13 minutes through Emad Hamdy, whose own-goal last weekend gifted the Algerians a 1-1 draw in Egypt.
Nasreddine Zaalani became the first Constantine footballer to score twice in the competition this season when he equalised in first-half stoppage-time.
Namibian Benson Shilongo put Ismaily ahead again on 50 minutes only for final-quarter goals from Nassim Yeltou and Congolese Dylan Bahamboula to win the match for the home team.
Constantine hope to emulate Entente Setif, JS Kabylie and Mouloudia Alger and bring the most prized CAF club trophy back to Algeria after a four-year absence.
With Ismaily on the way out, the chances of a 15th Egyptian triumph in the Champions League rest with Group D leaders and record eight-time winners Al Ahly.
AFP
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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