Two more matches remain for each team in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup with the fifth round set to take place on Sunday. The penultimate round could provide either climactic or anticlimactic moments where most of the groups may decide their two qualified teams for the quarterfinals or we could be set for a dramatic final day with many teams in contention.
Below we summarize the situation in each group before the fifth round:
Group A
Table
GP | Points | |
CS Constantine | 4 | 9 |
Simba SC | 4 | 9 |
Bravos do Maquis | 4 | 6 |
CS Sfaxien | 4 | 0 |
Fixtures
16:00 GMT
Bravos do Maquis (ANG) vs Simba SC (TZA)- Lubango, Angola
CS Constantine (ALG) vs CS Sfaxien (TUN)- Constantine, Algeria
Surprisingly, CS Sfaxien are the only team eliminated from contention for the quarterfinals but the Tunisian club is still capable of damaging the hopes of Constantine and Bravos do Maquis. The continental campaign is taking a toll on CS Constantine's domestic league fortunes so can the Algerian club maintain their strong position on Sunday?
Meanwhile in Angola, Bravos do Maquis have been the surprise team of the group and group favorites Simba will have to be at their best to avoid defeat against a team that has won both its home games.
Group B
Table
GP | Points | |
RS Berkane | 4 | 12 |
Stellenbosch | 4 | 6 |
Stade Malien | 4 | 4 |
CD Lunda Sul | 4 | 1 |
Fixtures
13:00 GMT
CD Lunda Sul (ANG) vs RS Berkane (MAR)- Luanda, Angola
Stellenbosch (RSA) vs Stade Malien (MLI)- Durban, South Africa
RS Berkane will look to maintain their perfect run in Group B but it is never easy for North African clubs to travel to a location like Angola where the heat provides a physical and psychological barrier. The match to watch is in Durban, South Africa where ambitious Stellenbosch FC have a glorious opportunity to clinch advancement to the quarterfinals. However it will not be easy against a Stade Malien side that defeated them in Bamako back in November.
Group C
Table
GP | Points | |
USM Alger | 4 | 8 |
ASEC Mimosas | 4 | 5 |
ASC Jaraaf | 4 | 5 |
Orapa United | 4 | 2 |
Fixtures
13:00 GMT
Orapa United (BWA) vs USM Alger (ALG)- Francistown, Botswana
16:00 GMT
ASC Jaraaf (SEN) vs ASEC Mimosas (CIV)- Dakar, Senegal
It feels like USM Alger should already have top spot in the group confirmed after accumulating a +9 goal difference. However, USMA have not been very convincing away from home and have an intriguing clash in Botswana with Orapa United who have yet to score a goal in Group C yet remain in contention with plenty to play for and nothing to lose. In Dakar, ASC Jaraaf and ASEC Mimosas clash with the Senegalese club needing a victory because they will travel to USMA on the final day.
Group D
Table
GP | Points | |
Zamalek | 4 | 8 |
Al Masry | 4 | 5 |
Black Bulls | 4 | 4 |
Enyimba | 4 | 4 |
Fixtures
16:00 GMT
Black Bulls (MOZ) vs Zamalek (EGY)- Cairo, Egypt
Enyimba (NGA) vs Al Masry (EGY)- Uyo, Nigeria
This group is still in the hands of the Egyptian clubs who can confirm their place in the quarterfinals with victories on Sunday. However, Enyimba are a notoriously difficult team to defeat in Nigeria and the Peoples' Elephant has plenty of momentum on its side with six goals in their last two matches across all competitions.
Black Bulls looked like a serious surprise contender in this group but due to unrest in Mozambique their home match against Zamalek will be hosted in Egypt, a serious blow to the Mozambican champions. The visitors from Mozambique did give Zamalek a tough test in the opening match of the group stage but now the Cairo giants know who they are dealing with this time around.
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