CAIRO — Egyptian giants Zamalek and Al-Masry launch their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final first-legs on Saturday, March 14, against Congo’s AS Otoho and Algeria’s CR Belouizdad respectively.
Several of the continent’s biggest clubs will be involved in CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final first-legs as the knockout rounds of the competition get underway on Saturday and Sunday, cafonline.com reported.
With the Confederation of African Football (CAF) having announced this week an increase in prize-money of $4-million for the winners, there is plenty of incentive for the eight clubs remaining in the competition.
AS Otoho from Congo take on Egyptian giants Zamalek in the first-leg of their tie at the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat in Brazzaville.
Zamalek is two-time winners of the CAF Confederation Cup, their last title coming in the 2023-24 season, while Otoho has advanced to the knockout rounds of a continental competition for the first time.
Egypt’s Al-Masry will host to CR Belouizdad from Algeria at Suez Stadium on Saturday, March 14.
Al-Masry is seeking their first CAF Confederation Cup semi-final since 2018, while the Algerians last reached the last-4 in a CAF Interclub competition in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996.
AS Maniema Union from the DR Congo will host USM Alger of Algeria at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Sunday, March 15.
USM Alger was champions of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2022-23 and will be hoping to repeat that feat, while Maniema Union are also competing in the knockout rounds of a CAF Interclub competition for the first time.
In the last of the quarter-final ties, Moroccan side Olympique Club Safi welcome compatriots Wydad Casablanca to the El Massira Stadium in Safi on Sunday, March 15.
Wydad is three-time champions in the CAF Champions League but have yet to lift the CAF Confederation Cup.
the second-legs of the ties will be played on the weekend of March 21–22.
Quarter-final 1st-leg fixtures
Saturday, March 14
AS Otoho vs Zamalek SC – Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat
Al-Masry vs CR Belouizdad – Suez Stadium
Sunday, March 15
AS Maniema Union vs USM Alger – Stade TP Mazembe
Olympique Club vs Wydad Casablanca – El Massira Stadium
