CAF Confederation Cup: Africa’s giants chase group stage glory as Second preliminary round - First legs kick off this weekend
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
Amakhosi head to Lubumbashi to meet AS Simba
Saturday’s CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round action kicks off at Stade TP Mazembe, where AS Simba will play host to Kaizer Chiefs in one of the standout first-leg fixtures of the competition.
Most CAF Confederation Cup predictions are giving the South African team the advantage in this tie, though Simba’s defensive solidity, especially at home, could make this a tough outing for the Glamour Boys, whose form has been erratic for a few years now.
This matchup marks the first time that Amakhosi will face a team from the Democratic Republic of Congo in over 10 years, having last played in this part of the continent back in 2014 in Kinshasa against AS Vita during the CAF Champions League.
Adding to the narrative that this will not be a straightforward contest for the Premier Soccer League side is the fact that they are making the trip without a permanent head coach in the dugout following Nassreddine Nabi’s departure in the lead-up to this match.
Amakhosi earned their spot in the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup by beating Angolan outfit Kabuscorp on penalties after the tie ended level at 1-1, while Simba eased into the second round with a 3-0 victory over Djabal Club d’Iconi of Comoros.
Zamalek to play both legs against Dekedaha in Cairo
On to Saturday evening, and our attention shifts to the north of the continent, where Dekedaha and Egyptian Premier League heavyweights Zamalek will kick off their first leg tie at the Cairo International Stadium, and you can catch all the action on our football livescores.
Owing to the Somali side not having a CAF-approved stadium, both legs of this clash will be staged in Egypt, which gives Zamalek a huge advantage as they look to overcome a poor start to the season and reclaim the Confederation Cup title for the second time in three years.
Dekedaha reached the second round of this competition by edging Sudanese side Al-Zamala on the away goals rule after their first-round tie ended 2-2. However, when they last faced their upcoming opponents, they were thrashed 13-0 on aggregate back in 2009.
Indeed, Dekedaha have come a long way since then, but playing both legs of this encounter on enemy territory adds to the size of the task at hand. After winning this competition in 2024, the White Knights were eliminated in the quarter-final by Stellenbosch last season.
No home advantage for Asante Kotoko against Wydad AC
Sunday’s headline fixture in the CAF Confederation Cup second round will see Ghana Premier League side Asante Kotoko taking on Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Casablanca at the Accra Sports Stadium in an afternoon kickoff.
The Porcupine Warriors were handed a significant setback in the lead-up to this fixture, with the Confederation of African Football rejecting the club’s request to use their usual home ground, the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, to stage their matches.
Given their pedigree and with two CAF Champions League titles under their belts, it is unsurprising that all of the best online betting sites have installed the Moroccan side as heavy favourites to progress to the main draw, and to take a lead back home for the second leg in a week.
However, Kotoko cannot be written off just yet, as the last time these two African giants crossed paths in this competition in 2004, it was the Ghanaian outfit that progressed with a 3-1 aggregate scoreline following a stunning 2-0 victory in Kumasi.
Other headline CAF Confederation Cup fixtures this weekend:
- 15 de Agosto vs. Stellenbosch
- OC Safi vs. Stade Tunisien - Saturday
- AFAD Plateau vs. USM Alger
- Hafia vs. CR Belouizdad
