The road to continental glory took a dramatic turn in Cairo on Tuesday as the quarter-final draw for the CAF Confederation Cup unveiled a compelling mix of derbies, historic firsts, and simmering regional rivalries.
Conducted at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association, the ceremony mapped out the final eight’s route toward the semi-finals, and immediately set tongues wagging across North and Central Africa.
Moroccan heavyweights to collide
The headline pairing pits Olympic Safi against compatriots Wydad AC in an explosive all-Botola Pro showdown.
Safi are charting new territory after storming into the last eight for the first time in club history, sealing second spot in Group A. Their reward, however, is a daunting examination against a seasoned Wydad outfit that swept through Group B with commanding authority.
We face OC Safi in the #TotalEnergiesCAFCC Quarterfinal 🇲🇦🤝#DimaWydad pic.twitter.com/RnKQSzZLZE
— Wydad Athletic Club (@WACofficiel) February 17, 2026
While the domestic derby ensures Morocco will have at least one representative in the semi-finals, it also eliminates one of the nation’s hopefuls earlier than many anticipated.
Egypt–Algeria Rivalry reignited
Another tie brimming with tension sees Al Masry square off against Algeria’s CR Belouizdad.
Al Masry edged into the knockout phase on goal difference, narrowly advancing ahead of Kaizer Chiefs, and now find themselves in a classic North African duel.
Encounters between Egyptian and Algerian sides rarely lack intensity, and this meeting promises to be no exception.
المصري X شباب بلوزداد⁰تحدي أفريقي جديد في الدور الربع النهائي للكونفدرالية الأفريقية 💥
يلا يا نسور🦅☝️#Almasrysc | #شجع_النسور pic.twitter.com/gW5pZa5oBA
— Al-Masry SC (@AlMasrySC) February 17, 2026
Favourites and first-timers
Elsewhere, Egyptian giants Zamalek SC have been handed a tie against Congolese outfit AS Otohô. Zamalek’s pedigree on the continental stage makes them one of the frontrunners for the crown, but knockout football has a habit of unsettling even the most decorated sides.
In the final quarter-final, debutants Maniema Union of DR Congo lock horns with experienced campaigners USM Alger. For Maniema Union, it is a golden opportunity to continue their fairytale run, though USM Alger’s know-how at this level could prove decisive.
Key dates
The first legs are slated for 13–15 March, with the return fixtures scheduled for 20–22 March.
By the end of that decisive fortnight, Africa will know its four semi-finalists, and which ambitions remain alive in the quest for Confederation Cup supremacy.
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#Zamalek | #MostTitledIn20C | #الزمالك_أولًا | #أكبر_قلعة_رياضية pic.twitter.com/ecrpXJNq6i
— Zamalek SC (@ZSCOfficial) February 17, 2026
CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final fixtures
Olympic Safi (Morocco) vs Wydad AC (Morocco)
Al Masry (Egypt) vs CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
Zamalek SC (Egypt) vs AS Otohô (Congo)
Maniema Union (DR Congo) vs USM Alger (Algeria)
