CAF Confederation Cup: thirty-two sides chase the final group-stage places
CAF Confederation Cup: the sixteen group-stage teams will be known on Wednesday, once the second legs of the final qualifying round are played
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A week on from the first legs, the CAF Confederation Cup serves up the return fixtures. The sixteen places up for grabs in the group stage will be settled on Wednesday 9 November, with kick-offs between 13:00 and 19:00 GMT. The thirty-two contenders can be split into three groups according to their chances of progressing.
For some sides, qualification is all but in the bag. Others have a decent platform, but their lead is slim. In the third category, it is wide open. Anything can happen.
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Barring a shock…
Top of the first group are Rivers United, who visit Al Nasr Benghazi. Winners (5-0) in the first leg, the Nigerians have little to fear in Libya. Barring a shock, they will take their place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
After their 4-1 win a week ago, Plateau United should return with their ticket booked from their trip to the Libyans of Al-Akhdar. Winners by the same scoreline (2-0) in the first leg, Diables rouges (Congo-Brazzaville), ASEC (Côte d'Ivoire) and DCMP (DR Congo) also have one foot, and all their toes, in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Narrow lead
The same could be said of the five other teams who won their first leg. But Al Ahli Tripoli, Lupopo, ASKO, NIGELEC and Monastir lead only by the slimmest of margins over, respectively, Marumo Gallants (1-0), RC Kadiogo (1-0), CS Sfaxien (2-1), Pyramids (1-0) and RS Berkane (0-1), the holders. The suspense is all the greater because, apart from Lupopo, all the first-leg winners travel to their opponents.
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Wide open
The first legs of the final qualifying round for the Confederation Cup group stage produced five draws. In those ties, it is completely open. Anything can happen. Especially between the sides who parted a week ago on 0-0 draws: Club Africain-Young Africans, USM Alger-Cape Town City and FAR Rabat-Djoliba. In the other two ties, Future FC-1° de Agosto and Real Bamako-Royal Leopards, the home sides have a slight edge. They had secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg. That away goal could open the door to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Editorial Team – Sport News Africa
FULL SCHEDULE (GMT)
Wednesday 9 November (First-leg results in brackets)
13:00 Marumo Gallants-Al Ahli Tripoli (0-1)
14:00 Lupopo-RC Kadiogo (1-0)
14:00 CS Sfaxien-ASKO (1-2)
14:30 Diables noirs-La Passe FC (2-0)
15:00 Al-Akhdar – Plateau United (1-4)
16:00 Gagnoa-ASEC (0-2)
16:00 Future FC-1° de Agosto (1-1)
16:00 Real Bamako-Royal Leopards (1-1)
17:00 Club Africain-Young Africans (0-0)
17:00 Royal AM FC-TP Mazembe (0-2)
17:00 Pyramids-NIGELEC (0-1)
17:00USM Alger-Cape Town City (0-0)
18:00 DCMP-Flambeau du Centre (2-0)
19:00 RS Berkane-Monastir (0-1)
19:00 FAR Rabat-Djoliba (0-0)
19:00 Al Nasr Benghazi-Rivers United (0-5)