The second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round takes place this Sunday, one week after the first-leg matches, with 15 spots in the group stage up for grabs. Only one match, between ESAE of Benin and Génération Foot of Senegal, will be played on Tuesday, November 5. The preliminary round has already seen intense competition, and the return fixtures are expected to be decisive as teams fight to secure a place in the group stage of Africa’s secondary club competition.
Several first-leg results have set the stage for tense second-leg encounters. Nairobi Bandari of Kenya will host Horoya of Guinea after losing 4-2 in the first leg, requiring a strong performance at home to overturn the deficit. Pyramids FC of Egypt lead Young Africans of Tanzania 2-1, giving them a narrow advantage going into the second leg. South Africa’s TS Galaxy will need to recover from a 2-0 defeat to Enyimba of Nigeria if they hope to progress. In Ghana, Asante Kotoko hold a 1-0 advantage over Abidjan San Pedro from Ivory Coast, positioning them favorably for qualification.
Several matches ended in draws during the first leg, leaving outcomes uncertain. Alger’s Paradou drew 0-0 with Uganda’s KCCA, while Motema Pembe of DR Congo and Gor Mahia of Kenya also drew 1-1. Agadir HUSA of Morocco drew 1-1 with Green Eagles of Zambia, and Kampala Proline of Uganda shared a 2-2 draw with El Nasr of Libya. These matches are set for decisive second-leg action, as both sides will aim to capitalize on home advantage to secure a group-stage spot.
Other ties saw clear advantages, such as Egypt’s El Masry, who defeated Côte d’Or of Seychelles 4-0 in the first leg, giving them a comfortable cushion heading into the second match. Bamako Djoliba of Mali hold a 1-0 lead over Elect Sport of Chad, while Lusaka’s Zanaco of Zambia lead Cano Sport of Equatorial Guinea 3-1. Fosa Juniors of Madagascar claimed a surprising 2-0 away win against RS Berkane of Morocco, putting them in a strong position to advance. Enugu Rangers of Nigeria face a challenge after a 2-1 loss to ASC Kara of Togo, and Bulawayo Triangle of Zimbabwe will play Nouadhibou of Mauritania in a tie where both teams will aim to secure qualification. Johannesburg’s Bidvest United currently lead UD Songo of Mozambique 2-1 from the first leg, giving them an advantage going into their return match.
The CAF Confederation Cup second-leg fixtures are crucial for determining which 15 teams will join the group stage, providing high-stakes matches filled with competitive intensity. Teams must balance home advantage, tactical adjustments, and player management to secure progression, while fans anticipate thrilling encounters across Africa. The only Tuesday match, ESAE vs Génération Foot, will also play a pivotal role in shaping the composition of the group stage.
As the preliminary round concludes, all eyes will be on decisive moments, late goals, and tactical battles that will decide which clubs advance in Africa’s secondary continental club competition.
