Zamalek amongst six teams to march on in CAFCC

01/13/2025 04:00 AM

Defending champions Zamalek qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals alongside CS Constantine, Simba, RS Berkane, Stellenbosch and USM Alger on Sunday.

CS Constantine maintained top spot in Group A with a resounding 3-0 victory over CS Sfaxien at the Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium.

A brace from Zakaria Benchaa (30′, 70′) put CSC in the driver’s seat and Mounder Temine (90+4′) sealed the win at the death to compound Juventus El Arab’s woes as they remain without a single point in the group.

Simba also qualified for the knockout phase despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Bravos do Maquis at the Estadio 11 de Novembro.

Abednego Mosiatlhaga gave the hosts a 13th-minute lead, but Leonel Ahoua (34′) found a reply for the Msimbazi Reds to secure second place, two points behind CS Constantine and three clear of Os Maquisardes with a vastly superior goal difference.

RS Berkane saw their perfect start in Group B come to an end after they played out to a 0-0 draw with Lunda Sul at the Estadio 11 de Novembro.

The Oranges Boys ensured they will finish top of the group, having collected 13 points from their opening five matches, with Lunda Sul still searching for their first win in the competition proper.

Stellenbosch continued their resurgence on the continent with a 2-0 triumph over Stade Malien at Loftus Versfeld to book their place in the next round.

First-half goals from Fawaaz Basadien (30′ PEN) and Jayden Adams (39′) made it three wins in a row for the Maroons, who lost their first two games in the group stages.

USM Alger secured their passage to the last eight after beating Orapa United 2-1 at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium.

Goals in each half from Sekou Gassama (14′) and Houssam Ghacha (60′) kept El Ittihad’s unbeaten record intact as they clinched pole position in Group C with 10 points.

ASC Jaraaf boosted their quarter-final hopes with a narrow 1-0 victory over ASEC Mimosas at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium.

Abdoulaye Oualy’s 26th-minute goal settled the contest as the Senegalese club went three points clear of Les Mimos in second place with one match left to play.

Meanwhile, Group D is still wide open after Enyimba and Al Masry shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

The Green Eagles (2nd) got off to a flying start when Mohamed Hashem opened the scoring on eight minutes, but Ifeanyi Ihemekwele (47′) hit back for the Peoples’ Elephant (3rd) to keep the gap between the two teams to a single point.

They will battle it out for the runners-up spot after Zamalek advanced to the quarter-finals with a 3-1 success against Black Bulls at the Cairo International Stadium.

After a goalless first half, Hossam Ashraf (51′, 53′) scored a quick-fire brace for the White Knights to put them in control before Ejaita Ifoni (62′) pulled one back for the Bulls. However, Zizo struck eight minutes from time to take the two-time winners of the competition five points clear of their Egyptian rivals.

Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup results:

Lunda Sul 0-0 RS Berkane

Stellenbosch 2-0 Stade Malien

Orapa United 1-2 USM Alger

Bravos do Maquis 1-1 Simba

CS Constantine 3-0 CS Sfaxien

ASC Jaraaf 1-0 ASEC Mimosas

Black Bulls 1-3 Zamalek

Enyimba 1-1 Al Masry