CAF Champions League
MAKE OR BREAK FOR ASANTE KOTOKO AGAINST KANO PILLARS
Former winners Asante Kotoko will be hoping to count on their two away goals to overturn a 3-2 loss to Kano Pillars in the first leg of the preliminary round clash of the CAF Champions League at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Playing in front of their teeming fans on Sunday, the clarion call is to give Pillars a taste of their own medicine and seek qualification to the next stage of the premier continental club competition.
It will be a time the players are expected to prove their worth and clout in continental competitions, having featured in the CAF Confederation Cup last season where they exited at the group stage.
All eyes will be on head coach Kjetil Zachariassen who mentioned after the first leg, mentioned that they deserved something from the game, but was sure of a flawless game in Kumasi.
“We did our best in the first game and I still believe that we should have picked at least a point. It was a very difficult game But that is in the past now.
“We have been very serious at training since we returned and the players are responding to the tactics,” the Norwegian said.
On his part, midfielder Habib Mohammed who played full throttle in the first leg has described the tie “make or break” for the Porcupine Warriors.
“Kano Pillars were a very hard nut to crack in the first leg. But we have reviewed the game and seen our lapses and theirs as well. So we are working on it at training with the hope that we will overturn that 3-2 scoreline on Sunday.”
“We managed to get two away goals and that will count for something after Sunday’s game”, the former Ashanti gold midfielder who is in his second season with Kotoko mentioned.
“We know the fans will be expecting us to do all we can to win the game and qualify to the next stage, and that is what we hope to achieve.
“This time, we have to be cautious in our approach and not to allow in any goals and make sure we ship in as many as possible. Our destiny lies in our hands and that it’s achievable, so Sunday”, he added.
Kano Pillars coach head coach, Ibrahim Musah has sounded a caution to the two-time African champions not to get carried away by their two away goals, but to brace up for what could be their toughest game yet, an action he believes will send Kotoko packing out of the Champions League.
“We are coming to Ghana to beat Asante Kotoko, the same way we did to Al Ahly SC in Egypt after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Sani Abacha stadium”, he mentioned in an interview with Kumasi based radio station, Nhyira FM.
Fixtures
Friday, 23 August 2019
- Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Atlabara (South Sudan) (4-0)
- KCCA (Uganda) vs African Stars (Namibia) (2-3)
- Cote d’Or (Seychelles) vs Fomboni (Comoros) (2-2)
Saturday, 24 August 2019
- Raja Athletic Club (Morocco) vs Brikama United (Gambia) (3-3)
- El Merreikh (Sudan) vs JS Kabylie (Algeria) (0-1)
- Zamalek (Egypt) vs Dekadaha (Somalia) (7-0)
- Generation Foot (Senegal) vs LPRC Oilers (Liberia) (0-1)
- Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) vs Hafia (Guinea) (1-2)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) vs AS Otoho (Congo) (1-2)
- Zesco United (Zambia) vs Green Mamba (Eswatini) (2-0)
- Township Rollers (Botswana) vs Young Africans (Tanzania) (1-1)
- FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) vs Big Bullets (Malawi) (0-0)
- Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) vs KMKM (Zanzibar) (2-0)
- Orlando Pirates (South Africa) vs Green Eagles (Zambia) (0-1)
Sunday, 25 August 2019
- *El Nasr (Libya) vs Tempete Mocaf (Central African Republic) (0-1)
- Horoya (Guinea) vs Stade Malien (Mali) (1-1)
- ASCK (Togo) vs Buffles (Benin) (1-1)
- AS Vita (Cameroon) vs UMS de Loum (Cameroon) (0-0)
- El Hilal (Sudan) vs Rayon Sports (Rwanda) (1-1)
- Enyimba (Nigeria) vs Rahimo (Burkina Faso) (0-1)
- USM Alger (Algeria) vs SONIDEP (Niger) (2-1)
- Gor Mahia (Kenya) vs Aigle Noir (Burundi) (0-0)
- Mekelle (Ethiopia) vs Cano Sport (Equatorial Guinea) (1-2)
- Asante Kotoko (Ghana) vs Kano Pillars (Nigeria) (2-3)
- Petro Atletico (Angola) vs Matlama (Lesotho)(2-0)
- Nouadhibou (Mauritania) vs SOA (Cote d’Ivoire) (0-0)
- Elect Sport (Chad) vs CMS (Gabon) (0-0)
- Simba (Tanzania) vs UD Songo (0-0)
- Pamplemousses (Mauritius) vs Fosa Juniors (Madagascar (0-1)
*Match will be played in Cairo (Egypt)
– CAF
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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Moroccan side RS Berkane delivered a commanding 3–0 victory over Rivers United FC to book their place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Berkane imposed themselves early and broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Youssef Mehri fired into the bottom corner following a swift attacking move.
The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later as Paul Valère Bassène finished clinically after being played through by Mounir Chouiar, leaving Rivers United with a mountain to climb before halftime.
The contest was effectively settled eight minutes into the second half. Bassène grabbed his second of the night in the 53rd minute, converting from close range after a corner to put the result beyond doubt.
Berkane maintained control for the remainder of the match, limiting Rivers United to speculative efforts and half-chances before comfortably seeing out the encounter.
With the results, Pyramids FC finish top of Group A, while RS Berkane join them in the knockout phase as runners-up, bringing the group stage to a decisive conclusion.
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Reigning CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC signed off their group-stage campaign in style with a 3–1 victory over Power Dynamos FC on Matchday 6 to secure top spot in Group A.
The Egyptian side made a bright start and went ahead in the 16th minute when Mostafa Ziko rose highest to head home from a corner, underlining their early dominance.
Power Dynamos responded almost immediately. Frederick Mulambia restored parity a minute later, finishing from close range after a well-worked cross to briefly unsettle the hosts.
However, Pyramids regained control midway through the first half. In the 33rd minute, Youssef Obama reacted quickest inside the penalty area to restore the lead, sending the defending champions into the break 2–1 ahead.
The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Ewerton unleashed a superb right-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom corner, extending the advantage to 3–1.
Despite late substitutions and sporadic pressure from the visitors, Pyramids managed proceedings comfortably to claim all three points and finish the group stage at the summit.
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