The 2023/2024 CAF Confederation Cup has reached its quarter-finals stage, and the official draw was held in Cairo, Egypt, with three African football legends as the Draw Assistants. Ivorian legend, Siaka Tiene, veteran South African former referee, Daniel Bennet, and Egyptian icon, Ahmed Hassan, joined hands to conduct the draw.
The headline pairing of the quarter-finals is Nigeria Premier Football League giants, Rivers United of Port Harcourt, and reigning champions, USM Alger. Rivers United finished second in Group C with 12 points, while the current holders of the competition, USM Alger, finished as table-toppers in Group A with 13 points. The Port Harcourt-based club has been exceptional in the competition and will be looking to make a name for themselves on the continent.
The last season’s winners of the competition, USM Alger, went on to lift the CAF Super Cup in a thrilling encounter against record CAF Champions League holders, Al Ahly. The two teams will clash in the quarter-finals, with Rivers United hosting their Algerian counterparts in the first leg on March 29. The Port Harcourt team will travel to Algeria to face the champions in the return leg on April 7.
In other exciting quarter-final pairings, Abu Salem of Libya will take on two-time champions, Renaissance Sportive de Berkane of Morocco, (2019/2020, 2021/2022). Modern Future, an Egyptian team, will be looking to follow in the path of other Egyptian giants who have stamped their authority on the continent as they battle against 2018/2019 champions, Zamalek, in an all-Egyptian clubside affair. Lastly, 2008/2009 champions Stade Malien de Bamako of Mali will take on Dreams FC of Ghana.
Abu Salem (Libya) v RS Berkane (Morocco)
Rivers United (Nigeria) v USM Alger (Algeria)
Stade Malien (Mali) v Dreams FC (Ghana)
Modern Future (Egypt) v Zamalek (Egypt).
The quarter-finals first leg will be on March 29, while the return fixtures will be on April 7. The CAF Confederation Cup has been a platform for several African football teams to showcase their talents and compete with other teams from different African countries for the ultimate prize. This year’s edition has been no different, and fans are eagerly anticipating the quarter-final clash, which promises to be thrilling and exciting.
