USM Alger, Safi reach CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals

USM remained top of Group A after a 0-0 draw away to Djoliba of Mali, who secured their first point after three straight losses.

Safi completed back-to-back victories over San Pedro of the Ivory Coast by winning 2-1 at home with the decisive second goal coming from Senegalese Moussa Kone, his fourth of the campaign.

USM, who beat Young Africans of Tanzania on away goals over two legs in the 2023 Confederation Cup final, top the group table with 10 points.

Safi have nine, San Pedro three and Djoliba one. San Pedro could draw level on points with Safi, but would lose out on head-to-head records.

Zamalek, twice winners of the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League, top Group D after a 2-1 away win over Al Masry in an Egyptian showdown in Suez.

Palestinian Oday Dabbagh scored the winning goal on 76 minutes after both clubs converted penalties in the opening half.

Kaizer Chiefs, seeking a first CAF title since winning the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup 25 years ago, remained in contention after a 1-0 win over ZESCO United of Zambia in Durban.

In the most hotly contested of the four groups, Zamalek have eight points, and Masry and Chiefs seven each. ZESCO are pointless and cannot qualify.

Chiefs host Masry next weekend and a 1-0 win or a victory by at least two goals would ensure the Johannesburg club of a quarter-final place.

The other South African challengers, 2025 semi-finalists Stellenbosch, have slipped from first to last in Group C after two defeats by Chabab Belouizdead of Algeria.

After a 2-0 loss in Algiers last weekend, Stellenbosch fared even worse in Cape Town, crashing to a 3-0 defeat with late goals from Abdennour Belhocini and Islam Abbaci completing the rout.

Exauce Nzaou netted twice in the second half to give AS Otoho of Congo Brazzville a 2-1 victory over 10-man Singida Big Stars of Tanzania in the same group.

Coached by German Sead Ramovic, Belouizdad lead with nine points. Otoho have six and Singida and Stellenbosch four each.

Wydad Casablanca of Morocco surrendered a five-match winning streak in qualifying and group matches after losing 2-1 to Maniema Union of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa.

An own goal by goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid just past the hour mark left Wydad trailing by two goals before Hamza Hannouri converted a penalty to set up a tense finish.

Wydad lead Maniema on goal difference with both clubs on nine points. AZAM of Tanzania are three points behind after a 1-0 home win against Kenyans Nairobi United.