CAF Confederation Cup Recap: Singida Black Stars join Azam FC in group stage

Ten clubs have secured their place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup as the final qualifying stage continues over the weekend. North African heavyweights Wydad AC of Morocco, USM Alger and CR Belouizdad of Algeria and Zamalek of Egypt punched their tickets while Singida Black Stars and Azam FC of Tanzania were among the sub-Saharan clubs to advance on Friday and Saturday.

Singida Black Stars have been desperate for an opportunity in the group stage of a CAF club competition and Saturday marked their breakthrough. Burundian club Flambeau du Centre did not make it easy, taking the lead in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

However, a second half surge saw Singida level the aggregate score before a red card to the visitors resulted in Clatous Chama and Idriss Diomande goals to send the Tanzanian big spenders through. They join Azam FC, who had a much easier time against Zanzibar’s KMKM to advance by a lopsided margin on Friday.

ZESCO United of Zambia did well to hold off Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana with a 1-1 draw in Botswana to maintain their advantage gained from a 4-3 first leg victory. They are joined by Congolese club AS Maniema Union who survived a tense penalty kick shootout to eliminate Eswatini’s Royal Leopard.

In North Africa, USM Alger overcame a first leg defeat to advance past Ivorian club AFAD Plateau with a 3-0 second leg victory in Algiers on Saturday. They and fellow Algerian giants CR Belouizdad will take part in the group stage after CRB defeated Guinea’s Hafia FC on Friday.

In an all-North African duel to conclude action on Saturday, Stade Tunisien attempted to comeback from a 0-2 first leg defeat at Morocco’s Olympique Safi but the winners of the Kingdom’s domestic cup competition Coupe du Trône prevailed despite a 1-2 second leg defeat in Tunisia. They join fellow Moroccan side Wydad AC, who thrashed Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko on Friday in Casablanca.

There still remains six slots to be decided on Sunday before the group stage draw takes place on November 3. Stay tuned for more after Sunday’s second legs take place.

CAF Confederation Cup Results

Saturday

Jwaneng Galaxy (BWA) 1-1 ZESCO United (ZAM)

• ZESCO United advance 5-4 on aggregate

Royal Leopards (ESW) 1-1 AS Maniema Union (DRC)

• Tied 2-2 on aggregate. AS Maniema Union win 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

USM Alger (ALG) 3-0 AFAD Plateau (CIV)

• USM Alger advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Coton FC (BEN) 0-3 FC San Pedro (CIV)

• FC San Pedro advance 4-1 on aggregate.

Singida Black Stars (TZA) 3-1 Flambeau du Centre (BDI)

• Singida Black Stars advance 3-2 on aggregate.

Stade Tunisien (TUN) 2-1 Olympique Safi (MAR)

• Olympique Safi advance 3-2 on aggregate.

Friday

Azam FC (TZA) 7-0 KMKM FC (ZAN)

• Azam FC advance 9-0 on aggregate.

Zamalek (EGY) 1-0 Dekedda (SOM)

• Zamalek advance 7-0 on aggregate.

CR Belouizdad (ALG) 2-0 Hafia FC (GUI)

• CR Belouizdad advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Wydad AC (MAR) 5-1 Asante Kotoko (GHA)

• Wydad AC advance 6-1 on aggregate.

CAF Confederation Cup: Sunday Fixtures

Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) vs AS Simba (DRC)

• Tied 0-0 after first leg.

Stellenbosch FC (RSA) vs. 15 de Agosto (EQG)

• Tied 0-0 after first leg.

AS Otoho d’Oyo (COG) vs Ferroviario Maputo (MOZ)

• AS Otoho lead 1-0 after first leg.

Djoliba (MLI) vs USFA (BFA)

• Tied 0-0 after first leg.

Etoile du Sahel (TUN) vs Nairobi United (KEN)

• Nairobi United lead 2-0 after first leg.

Al Masry (EGY) vs Al Ittihad (LBY)

• Tied 0-0 after first leg.⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.