The Confederation of African Football has finalized the quarter-final and semi-final paths for the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup during a ceremony in Cairo. Assisted by Tunisian legend Radhi Jaïdi and former Angola striker Manucho, the draw established several high-profile pairings that guarantee a period of intense regional competition.
The standout fixture of the round is an all-Moroccan derby between Olympique Club de Safi and Wydad AC, a matchup that ensures at least one Moroccan representative will advance to the final four. Elsewhere, Egyptian giants Zamalek SC are set to travel to Congo to face AS Otoho, while USM Alger will begin their knockout campaign on the road against AS Maniema Union.
The bracket further features a cross-regional battle between Algeria’s CR Belouizdad and Egypt’s Al Masry SC, which rounds out the quarter-final matchups. Under the established tournament regulations, the group runners-up are scheduled to host the first-leg encounters, with the away goals rule remaining in effect to decide any ties that end level on aggregate. To maintain the highest officiating standards during these high-stakes fixtures, CAF has confirmed that Video Assistant Referee technology will be implemented across all knockout stage matches. This technological integration aims to ensure that pivotal decisions are reviewed with precision as the competition moves toward its conclusion.
The semi-final trajectory has also been mapped out, creating the potential for more historic North African rivalries to be reignited in the later stages. The winner of the clash between Maniema Union and USM Alger will face the victor of the Moroccan derby between Safi and Wydad in the first semi-final. In the second semi-final bracket, the winner of the Al Masry and CR Belouizdad tie is scheduled to meet either AS Otoho or Zamalek SC. This structure sets the stage for a possible showdown between Zamalek and CR Belouizdad, a pairing that would carry significant weight given the continental pedigree of both institutions.
Financial incentives remain a major motivator for the remaining eight clubs, with substantial rewards waiting at each stage of the knockout phase. All quarter-finalists are currently guaranteed a minimum of $550,000 for reaching this level of the competition. The ultimate stakes are even higher, as the eventual winners of the CAF Confederation Cup are set to earn a grand prize of $2,000,000. These figures reflect CAF’s ongoing efforts to increase the commercial value and competitive allure of the tournament for clubs across the continent.
The upcoming schedule is tightly packed, with the first-leg quarter-final matches set to take place on March 15, 2026. Teams will have exactly one week to regroup before the second-leg fixtures are played on March 22, 2026. With the draw now complete and the road to the final clearly defined, the participating clubs must finalize their logistical and tactical preparations for what is expected to be a grueling month of continental football. The presence of multiple former champions in the draw suggests that the race for the 2026 title will be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
