The race for African club football supremacy heats up as the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25 enters its quarter-final stage this week.
On Wednesday, 2 April 2025, four electrifying first-leg matches will unfold across the continent, pitting seasoned heavyweights against rising stars in a battle for semi-final spots.
Among the standout fixtures, South African newcomers Stellenbosch FC will face off against Egyptian giants Zamalek SC at Cape Town Stadium. Zamalek, fresh off their 2024 title win, are chasing yet another crown, while Stellenbosch aim to mark their debut quarter-final appearance with a historic upset in a classic experience-versus-ambition showdown.
In Abidjan, ASEC Mimosas, former TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners, will lock horns with Morocco’s RS Berkane, a club renowned for its success in this competition. ASEC’s dynamic attack will test Berkane’s tactical discipline in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.
Algeria sets the stage for a gripping domestic showdown as CS Constantine host USM Alger at Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium. For Constantine, this is a landmark first appearance at this level, while USM Alger bring a wealth of experience and a hunger to go deeper in the tournament. With national bragging rights on the line, the atmosphere is expected to be electric.
Rounding out the quarter-finals, Egypt’s Al Masry SC will take on Tanzania’s Simba SC at Suez Stadium. Al Masry, semi-finalists in 2018, will lean on home advantage and past know-how, while Simba, returning to this stage for the first time since 2021/22, aim to assert their growing presence on the continental scene.
Quarter-Final First Leg Fixtures –
Wednesday, 2 April 2025
Stellenbosch FC (South Africa) vs Zamalek SC (Egypt)
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 13h00 GMT
ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) vs RS Berkane (Morocco)
Venue: Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan
Kick-off: 16h00 GMT
CS Constantine (Algeria) vs USM Alger (Algeria)
Venue: Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine
Kick-off: 16h00 GMT
Al Masry SC (Egypt) vs Simba SC (Tanzania)
Venue: Suez Stadium, Suez
Kick-off: 16h00 GMT
The second-leg matches are slated for the following week, with the teams emerging victorious on aggregate securing their places in the semi-finals of Africa’s premier second-tier club competition.