Six teams secured qualification for the quarterfinals of the 2022-23 CAF Confederation Cup following Sunday’s completion of the fifth matchday of the group stage. Tanzanian club Young Africans were among the teams who got the result they needed with Yanga’s 2-0 home victory over US Monastir sending the Dar es Salaam club through along with their Tunisian opponents on Sunday. The teams are tied with ten points each heading into the final matchday while Mali’s Real Bamako and Congolese titans TP Mazembe are eliminated.
Nigeria’s Rivers United did just enough to secure their passage with a 2-2 draw at home against Diables Noirs of the Republic of Congo. In a Group B clash that provided plenty of twists, Rivers stormed back from a one-goal deficit to take the lead before conceding an 81st minute leveler from 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations star Déo Bassinga. ASEC Mimosas defeated DC Motema Pembe 2-1 away from home, leaving ASEC and Rivers United tied at the top as the teams who will advance out of the group.
Surprise team Marumo Gallants of South Africa arrived late for their clash with Al Akhdar in Libya but despite falling 4-1 the club at the foot of the DStv Premiership are through to the quarterfinals out of Group A. It looks likely that Algerian club USM Alger will join Gallants if they can earn a draw or victory against Al Akhdar in front of their passionate home support on the final day. Congolese club Saint-Éloi Lupopo are all but eliminated after conceding a late equalizer in Sunday’s draw against USMA.
In a Group C dominated by North African clubs, there is still plenty to play for on the final day. Morocco’s ASFAR moved to the top on ten points after a 1-0 home victory over Pyramids FC of Egypt. Pyramids are two points behind, tied on eight points with fellow Egyptian Premier League side Future FC who defeated Togo’s ASKO Kara. The two Egyptian clubs will play against each other on the final day where a Pyramids victory at home is enough to send them through to the quarterfinals along with ASFAR.
Highlights from several matches are below following the list of scores and tables for each group.
Scores
Group A
Saint-Éloi Lupopo (DRC) 1-1 USM Alger (ALG)
Al Akhdar (LBY) 4-1 Marumo Gallants (RSA)
Group B
Rivers United (NGA) 2-2 Diables Noirs (CON)
DC Motema Pembe (DRC) 1-2 ASEC Mimosas (CIV)
Group C
Future FC (EGY) 3-0 ASKO Kara (TOG)
ASFAR (MAR) 1-0 Pyramids FC (EGY)
Group D
Real Bamako (MLI) 2-1 TP Mazembe (DRC)
Young Africans (TZA) 2-0 US Monastir (TUN)
Group Tables
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Highlights
Young Africans 2-0 US Monastir
ASFAR 1-0 Pyramids FC
Real Bamako 2-1 TP Mazembe
Future FC 3-0 ASKO Kara
Rivers United 2-2 Diables Noirs
DC Motema Pembe 1-2 ASEC Mimosas
