CAF Confederation Cup
We may not be the biggest name in the Confederation Cup, we are determined to create the best of impressions, says Remo Stars CEO, Ogungbefun
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
The clock is ticking down to the 9 September CAF Confederation Cup fixture of AS FAR of Morocco and continental debutants, Remo Stars at the magnificent Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Logically, the odds weigh against the Nigerian sides who are making their maiden international venture as against the 63 year old Moroccan team.
The match coming up at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat will possibly feature the biggest away crowd that Remo Stars ever faced. More daunting is also the fact that the fans in North Africa have the notoriety of intimidating away teams.
Beyond that, AS FAR, a military sports club is one of the legacy sports outfits in the Kingdom of Morocco.
It is one of the most widely supported in Africa and one of the three founding clubs of the Moroccan League that have never been relegated since the competition began in 1956.
Under the club’s belt are 30 titles comprising 12 in the kingdom’s elite league, 12 again in the national cup called the Moroccan Throne Cup, four Super Cup victories and one each of the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
But the intimidating profile of the Moroccan side does not really move Adedoyin Ogungbefun, the Chief Executive Officer of Remo Stars who works silently, but efficiently like a brand new air conditioner.
“We may not be the biggest team in the Confederation Cup, but we will make great impact”, he remarked at the Remo Stars Stadium which is undergoing a face lift to meet up with the expected standard of hosting a continental match.
“Our preparation began almost immediately we picked the continental ticket. We’ve appointed a new coach and we are also strengthening the squad”, Ogbungbefun remarked.
Since coming from the lower league penultimate season to shake the NPFL by picking continental ticket ahead of the Nigerian powerhouse clubs, the excitement created in the hitherto sleepy town of Ikenne has been immeasurable.
At a birthday party in the town at the weekend, the entire members of a musical band were decked in Remo Stars’ outfit.
Ogungbefun said the excitement has just begun. “With the Aiteo Cup coming to an end, some of the players we are recruiting will be reporting .”
He did not wish to give the names of the players as negotiations were still on at the time.
But ahead of the new season which the club is opening with a baptism of fire in a continental competition, Remo Stars planned some matches against selected sides in Lagos and Oyo states.
Beyond strengthening the squad that created waves last season, the home ground of Remo Stars is receiving a face-lift.
A new press conference room has been added to the complex that has been an envy to football connoisseurs. The arena boasts of one of the best pitches in the country.
In addition, there are three training pitches, almost similar to what obtains in Europe. That may not be a surprise as the owner of the arena and the club, Kunle Soname owns a thriving football club in Portugal – C.D. Feirense.
The arena boasts of a youth academy where the players are camped almost in luxury. An hotel and gymnasium are also additional facilities at the sprawling complex.
Ogungbefun, pointing at a new spectators’ stand just being added to the stadium said that the club’s management obtained pre-inspection guidelines to aid their preparation for a possible visit by CAF inspectors.
He strongly believes that there was no need to be thinking of an alternative home ground for the CAF Confederation Cup.
“We are doing everything to make the Remo Stars Stadium, a model for all. We are also working on our organisational skills to make the coming of Confederation Cup matches to Ikenne a memorable one.”
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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