The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the results of the draw for the quarter-finals of the African Confederation Cup, which resulted in different paths for the participating Arab clubs, amid a clear dominance of North African teams in this crucial round.
Zamalek faces a balanced challenge, while Al Masry faces a tough test
The draw brought good news for Zamalek fans, placing the Egyptian in a seemingly manageable match against Otoho . This encounter presents an ideal opportunity for the White Knights to advance to the semi-finals, leveraging their superior continental experience compared to their opponents.
On the other hand, the second Egyptian representative, Al-Masry of Port Said , faces a much tougher challenge when they clash with Algerian side CR Belouizdad . This match is considered one of the highlights of this round, given the Algerian team's physical and technical prowess, which necessitates thorough preparation from the Port Said team for this major football encounter.
A purely Moroccan derby and Arab dominance
In one of the biggest surprises of the draw, the quarterfinals will feature an all-Moroccan clash between giants Wydad Casablanca side Olympique Safi . This match is particularly significant as it guarantees a Moroccan team a place in the semifinals, while simultaneously eliminating another from the continental competition early. This comes amidst a sweeping Arab dominance of the tournament, with Arab clubs securing six out of the eight quarterfinal spots, reflecting the significant development of Arab football on the African continent.
Full results of the Confederation Cup quarter-final draw
- Match 1: Otoho (Congo) vs Zamalek (Egypt)
- Match 2: Al Masry (Egypt) vs CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
- Match 3: Olympic Safi (Morocco) vs Wydad (Morocco)
- Match 4: Maniema Union (DR Congo) vs USM Alger (Algeria)
The path to the semi-finals and the road to the title
The draw also determined the roadmap to the final, with the semi-final paths being as follows:
- The first semi-final: The winner of (Otoho and Zamalek) will face the winner of (Al-Masry and CR Belouizdad). This means a high probability of an all-Egyptian semi-final if both teams overcome the quarter-final hurdle.
- Second semi-final: The winner of (Olympique Safi and Wydad) will face the winner of (Manima Union and USM Alger).
Historical context and record numbers
This edition comes amidst fierce competition for titles and records. The name of Morocco's RS Berkane (the reigning champions, according to the ongoing competition) stands out as one of the most prominent clubs in the tournament's modern history, holding the record for most titles with three, a record they share with Tunisia's CS Sfaxien. Every team in this edition is striving to make history, whether by improving their record or winning the title for the first time.
