The first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals saw tight contests across the board, with Tunisian coaches Anis Boujelbene and Mouine Chaabani securing crucial results for their respective sides.
In a round filled with tactical battles, RS Berkane, under the guidance of Boujelbene, claimed a vital 1-0 away win against ASEC Mimosas, while Chaabani’s Al Masry delivered a decisive 2-0 victory over Simba SC to strengthen their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
Stalemate in Stellenbosch
Zamalek traveled to South Africa to face Stellenbosch in a match that ended goalless.
Despite both teams creating opportunities, neither side managed to find a breakthrough, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg in Egypt.
Al Masry take commanding lead over Simba SC
Al Masry, managed by Mouine Chaabani, put one foot in the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Tanzanian giants Simba SC. Adel Deghmoum struck in the 16th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Youssef El Gohary, before Ebuka sealed the win in the 89th minute.
With a solid defensive display and an efficient attacking approach, Al Masry ensured they will travel to Tanzania in a strong position for the return leg.
RS Berkane stun ASEC in Abidjan
Anis Boujelbene’s RS Berkane secured a crucial 1-0 away win against ASEC Mimosas in Abidjan, taking a valuable lead into the second leg in Morocco.
The Ivorian champions now face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit in the return fixture.
All square in Algerian derby
The all-Algerian encounter between CS Constantine and USM Alger ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams still in contention for a place in the semi-finals.
USM Alger, last season’s Confederation Cup winners, will be hoping to capitalize on their home advantage in the return leg to edge past their domestic rivals.
Return leg set to decide semi-finalists
With the quarter-finals finely poised, all four ties remain open ahead of the second-leg clashes.
Zamalek will look to capitalize on their home advantage, while Simba SC faces an uphill task to overturn their deficit.
RS Berkane and Al Masry head into their respective return fixtures in strong positions, but nothing is decided yet in what promises to be an intense second leg across the continent.
