CAF Champions League
TYAVKASE: NO MARGIN FOR ERRORS AGAINST WYDAD IN CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TIE
On Sunday, no quarter would be asked and none would be given when Lobi Stars entertain Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco on Match Day 3 at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium.
The match,
originally slated for Saturday is pushed to Sunday as the Enugu stadium venue will
be used for political campaign this Saturday.
According to Cafonline, this much is the prediction of experienced Lobi Stars’
midfielder David Tyavkase, a veteran of many continental cup battles dating
back to his days with Enyimba where he successively won the CAF Champions
League in 2003 and 2004 as well as the Africa Super Cup in 2004 and 2005.
“During my stint with Enyimba, I never played against Wydad but I played
against Raja Club Athletic of Morocco; and generally, we know what most teams
from North Africa can do,” the 34-year-old Tyavkase said in an interview with
CAFOnline.com.
“It is true that Wydad has so far shown good form in this competition but it’s
up to us to stop them on Saturday in Enugu.”
Described as a ‘game changer’ by coach Solomon Ogbeide partly for Tyavkase’s
ability to come off the bench to score vital goals for his side; aside his near
to two decades experience playing at international levels for both club and
country.
Tyavkase said Lobi Stars must be up and running in this weekend’s tie against
their battle-hardened North African visitors with whom they contest for quarter
final tickets in a seemingly tough Group A complete with ASEC Mimosas and
Mamelodi Sundowns.
Incidentally, all the four teams have so far have identical results after they
have each recorded just a win and and lost in previous two matches.
“We have to be very fit and alert throughout the match against Wydad,”
noted Tyavkase, a former Nigerian international who won four (4) domestic
league titles with Enyimba.
“From my experience, the first 45 minutes and 10 minutes into the second half
are the most dangerous periods playing against any team from North Africa; and
we must be very alert because Wydad will come hard on us.
“We need the three points from this encounter because any of the four
teams in the group can go through; I believe we have the team that can play
against the best on the continent.”
Tyavkase who had a brief stint with US Bitam of Gabon en route to Lobi Stars
said the playing body will gird their loins against their Moroccan counterparts
to keep their campaign alive.
“We want to win on Friday in order to be in good position before we travel for
the second leg in Morocco,” noted the midfielder.
Meanwhile, in the other Group A tie billed for Friday, Mamelodi Sundowns hosts
ost ASEC Mimosas at the Loftus Stadium in Pretoria as the competition reaches
the half way mark.
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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