Azam FC kept their CAF Confederation Cup hopes firmly on track with a hard‑fought 1–0 victory over DR Congo’s Maniema Union in Match Round 5 at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
Sadio Kanoute headed the only goal for AZAM of Tanzania edge out Maniema Union of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday to retain a faint hope of reaching the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals.
The 29-year-old Malian midfielder signed from two times CAF Champions League , Algerian Professional League side Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie struck after 24 minutes of the matchday five fixture in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
This win increased Azam’s tally to 9 points from five matches, putting them level with both Wydad AC and Maniema. This result has left the race for the two quarter-final spots wide open
Wydad AC currently leads Group B with 9 points from four matches, followed by Maniema (Congo) in second place with the same points total after playing five games. Azam occupies third place, also with 9 points, while Nairobi United has officially exited the competition, remaining at the bottom of the group without any points.
Maniema host Nairobi in Kinshasa in the final round on February 15 while AZAM have what is likely to be a much tougher task, away to Wydad in the Moroccan commercial capital. Funded by an ice cream company, AZAM are coached by DR Congo-born Florent Ibenge. He won the 2021-22 Confederation Cup with Moroccan club Reniassance Sportive Berkane.
