The stage is set for the quarter-finals of Africa’s second-tier club competition, the CAF Confederation Cup after Wednesday’s draws in Cairo.
In what has become a norm, the draw is filled with North African teams but can the few Sub-Saharan teams left pull off a surprise? Afrosport presents the winners and losers from the draw.
WINNER
Rivers United
The Pride of Rivers finished second in Group B after losing 1-0 to ASEC Mimosas in the final round of the group stage. Regardless, the Port Harcourt outfit have been presented with a favourable draw against Young Africans of Tanzania.
Indeed, avoiding one of the North African sides is a positive for Rivers and more significant is that they have gotten credible results against Sub-Saharan teams in Diables Noirs and Motema Pembe.
Stanley Eguma’s men have also made their makeshift home, the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, a fortress and have the opportunity for a strong lead in the first leg in Uyo.
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LOSERS
Marumo Gallants
Gallants were one of the most impressive teams during the group stage where they topped Group A ahead of USM Alger, St. Eloi Lupopo and Al Akhdar.
It is indeed an amazing run the South African outfit are having in what is their debut continental campaign. They will however face tough opposition in Pyramids FC of Egypt in the quarter-finals, first having to play in Cairo before playing at home in South Africa for the return leg.
Marumo might have finished ahead of two North African teams USM Alger and Al Akhdar in the group stage but it has to be noted they never defeated any of them on the road, further stressing the difficulty of playing such sides away from home.
Also, their struggles in the South African Premier Soccer League where they are bottom of the log does not help their cause, added to their lack of experience in the knockout phase of continental games in which North African teams are very dominant.
ASEC Mimosas
The Ivorian giants managed to top Group B ahead of Rivers United but will have it all to do when they take on US Monastir of Tunisia in the quarter-finals.
ASEC does not have a good record in the Confederation Cup, with this being the very first time they have progressed out of the group stage. Their lack of experience in the knockout phase can therefore count against them.
Monastir might be newcomers in the Confederation Cup as this is the first time they made it into the group phase and progressed after just one previous outing in the competition during the preliminary stage of the 2020-21 season, however, finishing second ahead of more experienced teams in the competition in two-time champions TP Mazembe and Real Bamako shows how impressive they have been.
Monastir will also play the first leg on home soil giving them the upper hand to continue their amazing continental run.
Watch the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals LIVE on AFROSPORT TV across Nigeria, channel 730 on Free TV and stream online via Vidivu TV.
