Panthers FC and ASPAC tie moved to Yaounde after Malabo stadium loses approval

The CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round first leg between Panthers FC and ASPAC Football Club has been rescheduled and moved to Cameroon after the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo was downgraded and declared unavailable to host the continental fixture.

The match was originally due to take place on Saturday, 5 September 2026. It will now be played on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, with the Equatorial Guinean side required to host ASPAC Football Club at a neutral venue.

Yaounde has been selected as the replacement location for the meeting, which had been expected to take place at Panthers FC’s usual home ground. The change means the fixture will no longer be staged in Malabo, while the exact stadium in the Cameroonian capital remains to be confirmed.

The match is expected to be held either at the Stade Paul Biya d’Olembe or the Stade omnisports Ahmadou Ahidjo. The former has a capacity of 60,000, while the latter can accommodate 40,000 spectators.

An official decision on which of the two venues will be used is expected shortly.

The Nuevo Estadio de Malabo’s downgrade is the reason the opening leg has had to be rearranged. With the stadium no longer able to stage the game, Panthers FC have been forced to find an alternative venue outside Equatorial Guinea for their continental home fixture.

That leaves the match facing two changes from its original arrangements: a new date and a new stadium. Instead of playing on 5 September in Malabo, Panthers FC and ASPAC Football Club will meet on 8 September in Yaounde, subject to confirmation of the final ground.

The fixture will be the first leg of the first preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup. Panthers FC will represent Equatorial Guinea in the tie, while ASPAC Football Club, described as a Beninese port club, will travel from Benin for the encounter.

The choice between the Stade Paul Biya d’Olembe and the Stade omnisports Ahmadou Ahidjo is now the only remaining uncertainty surrounding the venue. Both stadiums are located in Yaounde and offer significantly larger capacities than would be required for the fixture, although the final selection has not yet been made public.

For now, the confirmed details are that the match will be played in Yaounde on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. The stadium announcement is expected in the coming days, completing the arrangements for the rescheduled CAF Confederation Cup tie.