CAF Confederation Cup
CONFEDERATION CUP MATCH DAY 2 THROWS UP TITANIC CLASHES
Action returns in the 2019-20 Total CAF Confederation Cup this Sunday when match day 2 games take place across the continent.
The opening day matches saw some intriguing encounters, with 18 goals scored in eight games, four of which ending in stalemate.
There will be a place for regional derbies, especially in Group D when Northern neighbors Paradou of Algeria and Hassania Agadir of Morocco lock horns in Blida, while Western sides Enyimba of Nigeria and San Pedro of Cote d’Ivoire face in Aba.
Following are some facts about Match Day 2 games:
Al Masry v Enugu Rangers December 8, 2019
- This is the first CAF Confederation Cup encounter between Al Masry and Enugu Rangers. o Al Masry scored three goals against Nouadhibou on CAF Confederation Cup MD1, the most goals they’ve ever scored in a single game in the competition and more than in in their previous four games combined (2).
- Enugu Rangers have lost four of their last five CAF Confederation Cup group stage matches (D1), failing to score more than once in each contest.
Pyramids FC v Nouadhibou
- Pyramids FC became the first CAF Confederation Cup side to be awarded two penalties in the same match since Étoile du Sahel in April 2019 against Al-Hilal Omdurman (three penalties).
- Nouadhibou’s Ezechiel Depode had more combined tackles (5) and interceptions (4) on CAF Confederation Cup MD1 than any other player (9).
- Islam Eissa was directly involved in two of Pyramids FC’s three goals on CAF Confederation Cup MD1, assisting the Egyptian side’s second goal and scoring the third from the penalty spot.
Zanaco v RS Berkane
- Zanaco will be facing Moroccan opponents for the second occasion in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage – meeting FUS Rabat in 2010, losing 1-0 away whilst drawing 1-1 at home.
- RS Berkane’s Omar Namsaoui created seven chances against ESAE on CAF Confederation Cup MD1; two more than any other player. In fact, it is the most by a player in the competition since Namsaoui himself created eight chances against Zamalek in May 2019.
- Zanaco’s Souleymanou Moussa recorded more shots (9) and shots on target (5) than any other player on CAF Confederation Cup MD1, although the attacker only converted one of his chances
ESAE v Motema Pembe
- Motema Pembe will be facing Beninese opponents in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage for the first time, the fifth different nation they will have faced.
- ESAE suffered the biggest margin of defeat on CAF Confederation Cup MD1 (0-3), with the Benin side recording the lowest possession figures (37.1%) and no side recording fewer shots (4).
- William Likuta Luezi had more shots (4) and created more chances (5) than any other of his Motema Pembe teammates on CAF Confederation Cup MD1, with the winger also providing the assist for Peter Kolawole’s goal.
Djoliba v Bidvest Wits
- Djoliba will be facing South African opponents in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage for the first time, the ninth different nation they will have faced.
- Bidvest Wits whipped in 26 crosses from open play on CAF Confederation Cup MD1; four more than any other side. However, they failed to convert any of their six successful crosses into goals, drawing 0-0.
- Only Zanaco’s Souleymanou Moussa (5) had more shots on target on CAF
Confederation Cup MD1 than Djoliba’s El Hadji Bah (3).
Horoya v Al-Nasr Benghazi
- Horoya have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five CAF Confederation Cup group stage matches (W2 D2 L1), although they’ve failed to score themselves in two of the last three.
- No player was fouled on more occasions on CAF Confederation Cup MD1 than Horoya‘s Aristide Bancé (5). However, teammate Morlaye Sylla committed six fouls; no player gave away more on MD1.
- Al-Nasr Benghazi defender Abdalla Sherif made more tackles than any other player on CAF Confederation Cup MD1 (6). Sherif also made five clearances and two interceptions in his team’s 1-1 draw.
Enyimba International v San Pédro
- Enyimba International will be facing opponents from Côte d’Ivoire for the second occasion in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage – meeting Williamsville AC in 2018, losing 2-0 away whilst winning 1-0 at home.
- Enyimba International have lost each of their last three CAF Confederation Cup matches; more than in their first eight in the competition (W5 D1 L2).
- Last time out, Pacôme Agboke became the first player to miss a penalty in the CAF Confederation Cup since Étoile du Sahel’s Yassine Chikhaoui in April 2019, the previous six penalties had been converted in the competition.
Paradou AC v Hassania Agadir
- Algerian sides are yet to record a victory against Moroccan opponents in six CAF Confederation Cup matches (D3 L3), drawing each of the last three.
- Hassania Agadir have never won an away game in the CAF Confederation Cup (D1 L3), scoring just one goal in those four matches on the road.
- Hassania Agadir’s Mehdi Oubilla had more touches (102), passes (89) and successful passes (83) than any other player on CAF Confederation Cup MD1.
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- WAFCON4 days ago
BREAKING: CAF Postpones WAFCON 2026
- OBITUARY5 days ago
Nigerian Sports Journalism Mourns Oyeniyi Oyeleke and Tonex Chukwu
- MLS1 week ago
Trump to Host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at the White House
- World Cup5 days ago
‘I really don’t care’ if Iran plays in World Cup, Trump tells Politico
- World Cup4 days ago
Iraq’s World Cup Playoff in Doubt as War Disrupts Travel and Visa Processing
- FA Cup2 days ago
Eze thunderbolt guides Arsenal past Mansfield into FA Cup quarter-finals
- WAFCON1 week ago
Ahead of WAFCON 2026, CAF Celebrates Super Falcons’ Enduring Legacy from Trailblazers to Torchbearers
- MLS3 days ago
Trump celebrates Messi