The semi-final line-up of the CAF Confederation Cup will be decided this weekend, with the quarter-final second legs set to take place across the continent in what promises to be a tightly contested conclusion.
Three of the four ties remain level after the first-leg encounters, leaving qualification for the last four finely balanced and setting up decisive clashes in both North and Central Africa.
The weekend’s action begins with CR Belouizdad hosting Al Masry at the Stade de Nelson Mandela, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm CAT. The first leg in Suez ended 1-1, after 21-year-old Lofti Boussouar struck a late stoppage-time equaliser to cancel out Salah Mohsen’s 55th-minute penalty.
With the tie evenly poised, both sides will be aiming to seize the initiative, although Al Masry will be particularly motivated after falling at the same stage of the competition last season.
Attention then turns to Sunday’s fixtures, beginning with Zamalek taking on Otohô at the Cairo International Stadium. The sides also played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg, with Charles Konde and Oday Dabbagh both scoring in the opening half.
Zamalek, one of the competition’s most established sides, will need a strong performance against resilient opposition if they are to progress to the semi-finals.
In Casablanca, a Moroccan derby will see Wydad AC face OC Safi at the Stade Mohammed V. The first leg ended level, despite Wydad dominating the match statistics, registering 16 shots, five on target and creating six clear chances.
They will be aiming to replicate that level of performance while improving their finishing as they seek to secure a place in the last four.
The final tie of the quarter-finals sees USM Alger host Maniema Union at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962. Unlike the other fixtures, this is the only tie not level, with Maniema Union holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg following goals from Clément Pitroipa and Exaucia Moanda.
Despite trailing, USM Alger will look to use home advantage to overturn the deficit and keep their campaign alive.
With narrow margins across the board and semi-final places at stake, the upcoming matches are expected to deliver high tension and decisive moments as clubs across Africa compete to remain in contention for continental success.
The outcomes of these ties will determine the final four teams left standing in this year’s competition, with each side aiming to take a step closer to lifting one of African club football’s major trophies.
