The competition for qualification tickets to the semi-finals of the African Confederation Cup for the 2025-2026 season has heated up, after the first leg of the quarter-final matches resulted in very close results, keeping the chances of all teams intact before the return matches.
African Confederation Cup quarter-final matches
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The official website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) highlighted the first-leg matches, which did not witness clear dominance for any team, as three matches ended in a draw, while Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the only team that succeeded in achieving victory, obtaining a limited advantage before the return match.
African Confederation Cup
In an all-Moroccan confrontation, the match between Wydad Athletic Club and Olympique Safi was decided in a positive 1-1 draw, in a match that was characterized as competitive as expected, leaving the qualification ticket open before the expected return match in Casablanca.
As for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Maniema Union was able to defeat USM Alger with a score of 2-1. The hosts took the lead first through Clement Pitroipa, before Ahmed Khalidi equalized the score for the Algerian team at the beginning of the second half, but Exocia Muanda restored the lead to the Congolese team with a decisive goal that gave his team a slight advantage before the return match in Algeria.
In another match, CS Belouizdad returned with a positive result from Egypt after a 1-1 draw with Al-Masry Club of Port Said, leaving the decision postponed until the return match in Algeria.
Zamalek also succeeded in achieving a good result away from home with a 1-1 draw against Congolese Otoho in Brazzaville. The Congolese team took an early lead through Charles Atibo, before Uday Dabbagh equalized for the Egyptian team before the end of the first half. Zamalek was close to snatching victory, but settled for a draw, which gives it a relative advantage before facing Cairo.
The results of the first leg showed the great parity between the competing teams this season, as all clubs still have a chance to pass into the semi-finals.
The identity of the semi-finalists will be decided during the return matches on March 21 and 22, according to the following programme:
Dates of the Confederation Cup quarter-final second leg matches
Friday 21 March
Chabab Belouizdad vs Al-Masry of Port Said – 9:00 PM Cairo time
Saturday 22 March
Zamalek x Otoho – 6:00
Wydad Athletic Club x Olympique Safi – 8:00
USM Algeria x Maniema Union – at 9:00
