The opening round of the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup kicked off with thrilling action and surprising outcomes as teams from across Africa vied for advancement to the next stage of the tournament. The first legs of the preliminary round, played over the weekend of September 16-21, showcased tight contests, unexpected upsets, and vital away goals that set the stage for a compelling return leg.
Match Highlights:
On September 16, Forestiers FC of Seychelles made a bold statement on their home ground, clinching a narrow 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto, a result that keeps their hopes alive in this prestigious tournament.
The action continued on the 19th with a mix of results. Both Welayta Dicha (Ethiopia) and Al-Ittihad (Libya) battled to a goalless draw in a match that highlighted defensive sturdiness. Meanwhile, in a tightly contested match, Aigle Royal (Cameroon) was edged out 1-0 by San Pedro from Côte d’Ivoire, handing the visitors a crucial away triumph. USFA of Burkina Faso also secured a home win, defeating Gbohloe-su from Togo 1-0.
As the week progressed, more drama unfolded. On September 20, El Merriekh Bentiu from South Sudan suffered a setback at home, falling 0-2 to Tanzania’s Azam FC. Flambeau du Centre (Burundi) delivered an impressive performance, beating Al Akhdar (Libya) 2-1 in front of their fans. Madani (Sudan) pulled off a 1-0 victory over the well-respected Étoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia, while FC 105 Libreville (Gabon) cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win against ZESCO United (Zambia).
Adding to the excitement, Hafia from Guinea delivered a stunning 3-0 win against Bhantal (Senegal), showcasing their attacking prowess. In a closely fought contest, Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) edged out Rayon Sports (Rwanda) with a 1-0 victory. Stade Tunisien of Tunisia also enjoyed a successful outing, defeating SNIM (Mauritania) by a solid 2-0 margin. Kabuscorp (Angola) followed suit with a 1-0 win over South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs.
The matches continued on September 21, featuring a series of hard-fought draws and high-stakes matchups. Generation Foot (Senegal) drew 1-1 with Académie de FAD from Côte d’Ivoire, while Black Man Warrior (Liberia) battled to a stalemate with Coton FC (Benin), finishing 0-0. Abia Warriors (Nigeria) and Djoliba (Mali) also ended 1-1, showcasing competitive spirit on both sides.
In one of the more thrilling encounters, Asante Kotoko from Ghana managed to narrowly overcome Kwara United (Nigeria) with a 4-3 victory, illuminating the excitement that this tournament promises. The match between 15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) and Forestiers FC saw the former turn the tables with an impressive 4-0 win in the return leg, reversing the situation from their earlier loss.
Additional matches saw Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) fall 1-2 to Otohô d’Oyo (Congo), Port (Djibouti) lose 1-2 to KMKM (Zanzibar), and Dekedda (Somalia) achieve a 1-0 victory over Zamala Ruwaba (Sudan). Ferroviário Maputo (Mozambique) and AS Fanalamanga (Madagascar) fought to a 1-1 draw, while Mighty Wanderers of Malawi secured a tight 1-0 win against Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana).
With the stage set, all teams now look forward to the second legs scheduled to take place from September 26-28, 2025. Every match remains crucial as teams aim for progression to the second preliminary round and strive to fulfill their continental ambitions in the CAF Confederation Cup. The excitement continues as fans worldwide await the next chapter in this thrilling tournament!
