The CAF Confederation Cup second round gets underway this weekend with the first-leg matchups after the thrilling first preliminary round. The matches are expected to be exciting as it is now time for the clubs that were exempt from the previous round to compete, with champions RS Berkane of Morocco traveling to face Kwara United of Nigeria.
Pyramids FC of Egypt, who are traveling to play Al Hilal of Sudan, is another match that is eagerly awaited.
There are a number of encounters featuring clubs from the north and the south of the continent, with ASCK of Togo welcoming USMA of Algeria and Al Akhdar of Libya squaring off against Azam of Tanzania. Additionally, Sporting Gagnoa of Côte d’Ivoire will take on JS Saoura of Algeria, and FAR Rabat of Morocco will face Ashanti GB of Guinea.
FC St Eloi Lupopo from the DR Congo will host Sagrada from Angola in its first African game of the season as a result of the withdrawal of its opponent from the first round.
A challenging encounter will take place in a West African derby between AS Real Bamako of Mali and Hearts of Oak of Ghana, while the southern African matchup between Royal AM of South Africa and Zesco of Zambia will also be exciting.
A week later, the rematches from the second preliminary round will take place.
To advance to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, the qualifiers must defeat the clubs that were ousted from the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.