CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage: Chiefs Out, Durban City and Al Ahly Through
Fifteen clubs have booked their places in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27 Group Stage, and the headline for South Africa is a painful one: Kaizer Chiefs are out. The draw takes place in Cairo on Wednesday, 28 October, at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters. The Confederation Cup draw is at 14h00 Cairo time (11h00 […]
Fifteen clubs have booked their places in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27 Group Stage, and the headline for South Africa is a painful one: Kaizer Chiefs are out. The draw takes place in Cairo on Wednesday, 28 October, at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters. The Confederation Cup draw is at 14h00 Cairo time (11h00 GMT), followed by the Champions League draw an hour later.
Red Arrows Break Chiefs’ Hearts in Durban
Zambia’s Red Arrows knocked out Chiefs on penalties, winning the shootout 3-2 in Durban. Amakhosi won the return leg 1-0 to level the aggregate at 1-1, but couldn’t find a way through from the spot. Red Arrows had won the first leg by the same scoreline in Ndola.
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Durban City Make History
There was joy for South African football elsewhere in Durban. Durban City reached the group stage for the first time in their history after a 6-1 aggregate win over Mauritius’ AS Port Louis.
The Heavyweights Roll On
- Al Ahly thrashed Uganda’s Kitara FC 4-0 in Cairo to win 6-1 on aggregate.
- Raja Club Athletic and AS FAR both came through tough ties to give Morocco two representatives.
- CS Sfaxien beat AF Amadou Diallo 1-0 at home to progress 2-1 on aggregate.
Goals, Comebacks and Close Calls
AS Maniema Union were among the standouts, beating Angola’s Kabuscorp 4-1 in both legs for an 8-2 aggregate win. Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli hammered Ethiopia’s Welwalo Adigrat 8-1 over two legs, and Mozambique’s Black Bulls saw off Rayon Sports 4-2 on aggregate.
At the other end of the margin scale, Togo’s ASKO de Kara edged Mali’s FC Diarra on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw. Mali’s AS Real Bamako went through 5-3 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw against ES Zarzis, and Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto beat DC Virunga 3-1 on aggregate.
Tanzania Doubles Up
Tanzania will have two clubs in the group stage. Azam beat ZED FC 1-0 to go through 2-1 on aggregate, while Singida Black Stars drew 1-1 with Tusker FC to complete a 2-1 aggregate win and a second straight group stage appearance. USM Alger were the first club to qualify, after Equatorial Guinea’s Panthers FC withdrew.
One Spot Still Open
The final place is still to be decided, with CR Belouizdad waiting on the winner of the tie between AS Douanes and Hafia Club. Hafia Club took the matter to the Court of Arbitration on Sport after being order to replay a game they susequently lost.
The 16 clubs will be drawn into four groups of four, with the top two from each group moving into the quarter-finals. The group stage begins in November. 🏆⚽️
The 15 confirmed clubs: Al Ahly, Al Ahly Tripoli, AS FAR, AS Maniema Union, AS Real Bamako, ASKO de Kara, Azam FC, Black Bulls, CS Sfaxien, Durban City, Primeiro de Agosto, Raja Club Athletic, Red Arrows, Singida Black Stars and USM Alger.
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