CR Belouizdad host AS Otoho on Sunday with top spot in their CAF Confederation Cup group at stake, despite both sides already securing qualification for the quarter-finals.
The final Group C fixture, scheduled for 4pm GMT in Algeria, will determine which team advances as group winners after a closely contested campaign.
CR Belouizdad enter the match leading the standings with 12 points, three ahead of AS Otoho d’Oyo.
The equation for the Algerian side is straightforward: a draw or victory would guarantee they remain at the top of the group.
For the Congolese club, only a win will suffice to overhaul their opponents and claim first place.
Having defeated CR Belouizdad 4-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, AS Otoho travel with the knowledge that they have already demonstrated their ability to trouble Sunday’s hosts.
That first-leg result still resonates in Algiers. CR Belouizdad’s heavy defeat in Congo provides added motivation as they look to respond on home soil.
With the backing of their supporters and a largely controlled group-stage performance behind them, the Algerian side are viewed as favourites to secure the point or points required.
However, caution remains necessary.
AS Otoho’s convincing victory in the earlier meeting underlined their capacity to compete at this level, and another positive result would see them leapfrog their opponents at the summit.
With progression assured for both clubs, the encounter will be played without the pressure of qualification.
Yet the incentive of finishing first — and potentially securing a more favourable draw in the next round — ensures the stakes remain high.
Sunday’s clash therefore offers more than a routine conclusion to the group phase.
It presents an opportunity for CR Belouizdad to combine qualification with redemption, while AS Otoho seek to complete a turnaround and end the group stage as leaders.
