Algerian football legend Rabah Madjer has described the upcoming CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final clash between USM Alger and CS Constantine as a highly unpredictable encounter.

Speaking following Thursday’s draw in the studios of beIN Sports, Madjer highlighted the unique challenge posed by the all-Algerian matchup, noting that both teams are familiar with each other’s tactics and style, having competed against each other in the domestic league.

“The match will be beyond expectations because each team is an open book to the other, and both know all the information about the competitor, especially since they play in the local league,” Madjer said.

The quarter-final draw for the CAF Confederation Cup, held in Doha on Thursday, also saw defending champions Zamalek of Egypt paired against South African debutants Stellenbosch, while last season’s runners-up, Morocco’s RS Berkane, will face Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas.

The final quarter-final tie will see Egyptian club Al Masry take on Tanzania’s Simba SC in a bid for a place in the last four.

Quarter-Final Fixtures:

• Stellenbosch (South Africa) vs. Zamalek (Egypt)
• ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire) vs. RS Berkane (Morocco)
• Simba SC (Tanzania) vs. Al Masry (Egypt)
• CS Constantine (Algeria) vs. USM Alger (Algeria)

The quarter-final matches will be played over two legs, scheduled for April 2 and April 9. The first leg will take place at the home ground of the team listed first in the draw.

Path to the Semi-Finals

The winner of the ASEC vs. RS Berkane clash will face the victor of the all-Algerian showdown between USM Alger and CS Constantine in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the winner of the Stellenbosch vs. Zamalek tie will meet the winner of the Al Masry vs. Simba encounter in the last four.

Madjer also weighed in on the overall competition, tipping last season’s finalists, Zamalek and RS Berkane, as the teams most likely to go the distance.

“The confrontations will be difficult by all standards for all teams, but Zamalek and Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, the two finalists of the last edition, are the candidates to go far,” he stated.

Egyptian teams have faced tough challenges against South African opposition in recent years, adding further intrigue to Zamalek’s quarter-final matchup against Stellenbosch.

With the competition heating up, the Confederation Cup knockout rounds promise to deliver high-intensity football as the continent’s top clubs battle for continental supremacy.

-CAF

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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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CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final line-up has been finalised with defending champions Zamalek leading a formidable array of clubs into the knock-out stages.

Eight teams from six nations will battle for continental glory when the quarter-finals commence on March 30, with the return legs scheduled for April 6.

Zamalek, who topped Group D with an impressive 14 points, are joined by fellow Egyptian side Al-Masry in the knockout stages.

The White Knights sealed their progress with a convincing 3-1 victory over Nigeria’s Enyimba on Sunday on the final matchday.

Tanzania’s Simba SC emerged as Group A winners, with Algeria’s CS Constantine securing second place.

Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane, previous winners of the competition, topped Group B ahead of South African debutants Stellenbosch.

USM Alger’s dominant Group C campaign saw them accumulate 14 points, while ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire dramatically claimed the final quarter-final berth with a convincing victory on the last day.

The quarter-final draw will prevent teams from the same group meeting, meaning Egyptian rivals Zamalek and Al-Masry cannot face each other until at least the semi-finals.

Zamalek will face one of CS Constantine, Stellenbosch, or ASEC Mimosas, while Al-Masry could meet Simba, Berkane, or USM Alger.

The tournament’s knockout phase structure ensures home advantage will be crucial, with group winners hosting the decisive second legs. The semi-finals are scheduled for April 20 and 27, with the two-legged final set for May 17 and 25.

The presence of former champions Zamalek and Berkane, alongside ambitious clubs like Simba and USM Alger, suggests an intriguing battle lies ahead for Africa’s second-tier club crown.

-CAF

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