The result handed the Algerian side progression on away goals following a goalless first leg in Algiers, ending Safi’s historic run at the semi-final stage.

The decisive encounter in Safi was overshadowed early on by crowd disturbances involving visiting supporters, forcing a delay of one hour and 20 minutes before kick-off. Despite the chaotic build-up, both sides delivered a high-intensity contest befitting the stakes.

USM Alger struck a crucial blow just before half-time when Ahmed Khaldi calmly converted a penalty deep into stoppage time, putting the visitors ahead and firmly in control of the tie.

The opening half was played at a relentless pace, with both teams combining for 17 shots — one of the highest first-half tallies in this season’s tournament. Olympique Safi, backed by their home crowd, created the bulk of the chances but were repeatedly frustrated in front of goal.

The Moroccan side’s persistence eventually paid off in the 75th minute when substitute Moussa Koné rose highest to head home an equaliser, sparking hopes of a late comeback.

However, Safi were unable to find the decisive second goal. Despite registering an impressive 41 attempts across both legs, they managed just one goal against a disciplined and well-organised USM Alger defence that held firm under sustained pressure in the closing stages.

The result marks a significant milestone for USM Alger, who reached the Confederation Cup final for the second time in their history, becoming the first Algerian club to do so twice after lifting the trophy in the 2022/23 season.

For Olympique Safi, the exit is bittersweet. They leave the competition unbeaten in their last five matches but are undone by inefficiency in front of goal. Their run of five consecutive draws sets a record in a single edition of the tournament — a testament to their resilience, but also their missed opportunities.

USM Alger will now face Zamalek SC in what promises to be a thrilling final, after the Egyptian giants advanced past CR Belouizdad.

The first leg of the final is scheduled to take place in Algeria next month, with the return leg in Cairo a week later, setting the stage for a compelling battle between two continental heavyweights.

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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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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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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 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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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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The Moroccan giants were ahead inside the first minute and never looked back, scoring twice from the spot after the interval before adding a late fifth to underline their superiority at the Mohammed V Stadium.

The tone was set almost immediately when Hamza Hannouri finished a sweeping move after only 60 seconds to put Wydad 1–0 up on the night and 2–0 ahead on aggregate.

 Kotoko, who had to chase the game, responded bravely and found a lifeline on 18 minutes when Samba Gilbani steered in an equaliser to level the match.

Any hope of a comeback was short-lived. On 26 minutes, Wydad restored their lead through Aziz Ki, who arrived from midfield to convert after the hosts carved open space down the inside-right channel.

With the visitors forced to commit numbers forward, Wydad controlled territory and tempo after half-time, repeatedly drawing fouls in dangerous areas as Kotoko tired.

Their pressure told from the spot in the 54th minute when Thembinkosi Lorch sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 3–1.

The Red and White continued to push, and a second penalty was awarded with six minutes of normal time remaining; Oussama Zemraoui converted confidently for 4–1.

Mohamed Bouchouari added gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time, arriving to finish a cut-back for Wydad’s fifth of the evening.

By then the outcome was beyond doubt, with the Moroccan side’s control in both boxes and superior game management decisive across the two legs.

The result returns Wydad to the group phase of a CAF interclub competition, a level they know well from their storied continental history. 

Wydad will know their group opponents on Monday.

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Commenting after Kotoko’s 1-0 victory in Abeokuta on Sunday, which sealed a 5-3 aggregate win for the Ghanaian giants, the 1980 AFCON winner revealed that he had earlier warned officials of Kwara United about the quality and tactical strength of their opponents.

“Do you know that I was in Ghana for an assignment when I watched Asante Kotoko play in the finals of the FA Cup against Accra Hearts of Oak?” Owolabi said. “The game ended 2-1 in favour of Kotoko, and I heard the President of Ghana promise to support the team in their continental campaign.”

According to him, the Ghanaian leader’s commitment reflected a renewed determination to revive the fortunes of club football in Ghana.

“He said the days of poor showing by Ghanaian teams were over and was ready to back them financially,” Owolabi noted.

The former Shooting Stars star added that he had returned to Nigeria with insights that could have helped Kwara United prepare better.

“I told some of those close to the team that Kotoko’s full-backs and midfielders were their engine room, and they needed a tactical plan that would disorganise them for the entire 90 minutes,” he explained.

Owolabi said he also cautioned that the tie was far from over despite Kwara United’s earlier away goals advantage.

“I warned them not to take qualification for granted until the final whistle. Psychologically, the three away goals made them overconfident,” he said.

The former winger lamented that Kwara United lacked a “matured tactician” to handle such a delicate second leg.

“All they needed was an experienced hand on the bench — someone who understands the dynamics of continental football,” Owolabi added. “It’s unfortunate. Now, it’s like medicine after death.”

He concluded by urging Nigerian clubs to attach greater importance to technical preparedness and experience when representing the country in continental competitions.

“Football has become too dynamic. Even the areas you least expect surprises have become success zones,” he warned.

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The slim victory handed the visitors a 5–3 aggregate triumph, sealing their progression to the next round of the continental competition and dashing the hopes of the Harmony Boys, who had entered the return leg needing only a 1–0 win to advance.

After losing a pulsating first leg 4–3 in Accra last weekend, Kwara United were banking on their three away goals to overturn the deficit.

However, Asante Kotoko displayed greater composure and tactical discipline in Abeokuta, frustrating the hosts for much of the contest.

The decisive moment came midway through the second half when the Ghanaians capitalised on a defensive lapse to grab the only goal of the game — a strike that effectively ended any comeback hopes for the Nigerian side.

Despite a spirited late push from the home team, Kotoko held firm, relying on their experience and solid defensive structure to preserve their advantage.

Kwara United’s head coach, Tunde Sanni, had promised an attacking approach, but his side found it difficult to break down a compact Kotoko backline that absorbed pressure and hit on the counter.

The result means the Ilorin-based club’s continental adventure has ended at the preliminary stage, while Asante Kotoko will now turn their focus to a blockbuster next round clash against Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca.

For Kwara United, the defeat marks a disappointing end to an otherwise promising campaign, but the team will take positives from their spirited away performance in Ghana and look to regroup for the upcoming domestic season.

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Despite falling 4–3 in a thrilling encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium last weekend, the Harmony Boys returned home with three valuable away goals — a major lifeline that keeps qualification firmly within reach.

 A 1–0 or 2–1 win on home soil will be enough to see them through to the next stage.

In a show of intent, the team arrived early in Abeokuta on Monday to fine-tune tactical plans and acclimatize to the playing conditions ahead of the must-win tie.

Training sessions have been intense and focused, with emphasis on tightening the defence and improving finishing in front of goal.

Head coach Tunde Sanni expressed optimism that his players have learned from the first-leg experience, admitting that some key names failed to hit their stride in Accra.

“In that first leg, some of our top players could not come to the party,” Sanni remarked. “This time around, I pray that everybody plays very well so that we won’t concede. We have to beat them convincingly.”

The coach hinted at slight adjustments to his starting lineup but emphasized that the squad’s overall readiness and team spirit remain strong.

“At least one or two changes must be there, but we are set. We can play anybody. Everybody is ready now and understands what is at stake.”

While aware of the defensive risks, Sanni insisted that Kwara United would not compromise their attacking philosophy, which has become a trademark of the Ilorin-based club.

“We are an attacking team. We don’t play defensive football. We always look to attack while maintaining balance,” he added.

Although the team will be without the passionate backing of their Ilorin faithful, Sanni believes the Abeokuta pitch provides the right surface for his players to express themselves.

“Definitely, we’re going to miss our fans, but Abeokuta has a very good pitch, so we can play anywhere,” he noted. “It won’t be easy, but with hard work, we can get the result we need.”

A victory on Sunday would not only avenge last week’s defeat but also secure Kwara United a high-profile final-round clash against Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca — a fixture that would further underline the club’s growing stature in continental football.

For the Harmony Boys, the message is clear: attack with purpose, defend with discipline, and fight till the final whistle — as the journey to Africa’s group stage continues.

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