RS Berkane and CS Sfaxien Secure CAF Confederation Cup Quarterfinal Spots
The fifth matchday of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage saw the first teams secure qualification for the quarterfinals: Renaissance Sportive de Berkane and Club Sportif Sfaxien. Both sides impressed with decisive victories that confirmed their places in the knockout stage.
CS Sfaxien booked their spot with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Étoile du Sahel. Firas Chaouat opened the scoring for the Tunisian side, and Nassim Hnid converted a penalty to give Sfaxien a comfortable lead. Although Saddam Ben Aziza pulled one back for Étoile du Sahel, it wasn’t enough to prevent the visitors from sealing qualification. With this result, Sfaxien enters the final matchday in a strong position to maintain their momentum and aim for the top spot in Group B.
Meanwhile, RS Berkane dominated Otoho d’Oyo in Group A with a 3-0 victory. Togolese striker Kodjo Laba opened the scoring, followed by goals from Salman Ouald ElHaj and Abdessamad El Mobaraky, ensuring the Moroccan side’s smooth passage into the quarterfinals. The win also allowed Berkane to climb to 11 points, giving them a significant advantage over their group rivals.
Other teams still fighting for progression include Al Hilal, Nkana, and Asante Kotoko in Group C. After Nkana’s 3-0 win over ZESCO United, the Zambian side sits at the top with 9 points. Al Hilal remains close behind with 8 points, while Asante Kotoko has 7, keeping the group highly competitive. ZESCO United has already been eliminated after three successive defeats, leaving the other three clubs to battle for the remaining quarterfinal berth.
In Group D, Zamalek reclaimed their leading position following a 3-0 victory against Gor Mahia. Goals from Mahmoud Alaa, Youssef Obama, and Ferjani Sassi, along with a fourth from Omar El Said, helped the Egyptian giants rise to 8 points. Petro Atletico also won their match against NA Hussein Dey 2-0, meaning the final standings in Group D remain open, with all four teams still in contention for qualification.
Other notable results from the fifth round included Raja Club Athletic’s 0-0 draw with Hassania Agadir in Group A, and Salitas FC drawing 1-1 with Enugu Rangers in Group B, showing how tightly contested the tournament has become.
The sixth and final matchday, scheduled for next weekend, will be decisive for the remaining teams in Groups A, C, and D. Only Sfaxien and RS Berkane have mathematically secured progression, leaving several teams battling for the remaining quarterfinal spots. With such fine margins between rivals, fans can expect a thrilling conclusion to the group stage, with qualification hanging in the balance for multiple clubs across the continent.
Group Standings After Matchday 5:
Group A:
-
RS Berkane 11 pts (+6) ✓
-
Otoho d’Oyo 5 pts (-3)
-
Hassania Agadir 5 pts (-1)
-
Raja Club Athletic 4 pts (-2)
Group B:
-
CS Sfaxien 9 pts (+2) ✓
-
Étoile du Sahel 7 pts (+1)
-
Enugu Rangers 5 pts (-1)
-
Salitas FC 4 pts (-2)
Group C:
-
Nkana FC 9 pts (+1)
-
Al Hilal 8 pts (+2)
-
Asante Kotoko 7 pts (+1)
-
ZESCO United 4 pts (-4)
Group D:
-
Zamalek SC 8 pts (+3)
-
Petro Atletico 7 pts (+1)
-
NA Hussein Dey 7 pts (-2)
-
Gor Mahia FC 6 pts (-2)
Next weekend’s matches will determine which clubs join Berkane and Sfaxien in the quarterfinals, promising an exciting climax to the group stage.
