The race for the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 remains finely balanced after four closely contested first-leg quarter-final matches across the continent.
No side managed to take full control of their tie over the weekend, with three matches ending in draws and AS Maniema Union the only team to secure a first-leg victory, leaving all four semi-final places still very much within reach ahead of the return fixtures.
In Morocco, Wydad Athletic Club and Olympique Club de Safi played out a dramatic 1-1 draw in an all-Moroccan quarter-final that lived up to expectations, ensuring the tie remains level ahead of the second leg in Casablanca.
In the DR Congo, AS Maniema Union edged Algeria’s USM Alger 2-1 to take a slender advantage into the return leg. Clément Pitroipa opened the scoring for the hosts before Ahmed Khaldi equalised for the visitors early in the second half.
Exaucia Moanda then restored Maniema Union’s lead with what proved to be the winning goal, giving the Congolese side a narrow but valuable edge before the decisive meeting in Algiers.
CR Belouizdad of Algeria also take encouragement into the second leg after securing a 1-1 draw away to Egypt’s Al Masry SC, leaving the tie delicately poised.
Zamalek SC also returned home with a useful result after drawing 1-1 away to AS Otoho in Brazzaville. The Congolese hosts took an early lead through Charles Atipo, but Zamalek responded before the break through Oday Dabbagh.
The Egyptian side created chances to win it and will now back themselves in Cairo, where they need only a goalless draw to progress.
The first-leg results underlined the competitiveness of this season’s quarter-finals, with all the clubs still in contention to reach the last four.
The second-leg matches, scheduled for 21 and 22 March, will now decide the semi-final line-up.
With narrow margins separating all eight clubs and only one-goal or level scorelines carried into the return fixtures, the stage is set for a decisive and potentially dramatic conclusion to the quarter-final round of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26.
TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 – Quarter-final second-leg fixtures (All times in GMT)
Friday, 21 March19:00 – CR Belouizdad (Algeria) vs Al Masry SC (Egypt)
Saturday, 22 March
16:00 – Zamalek SC (Egypt) vs AS Otoho (Congo)
18:00 – Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco) vs Olympique Club de Safi (Morocco)
19:00 – USM Alger (Algeria) vs AS Maniema Union (DR Congo)