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The CAF Confederation Cup draw held in Cairo on Tuesday has successfully kept African heavyweights Zamalek and Wydad Casablanca on opposite sides of the bracket.
The two giants, who share 18 continental titles between them, are now on a collision course that could only lead to a final meeting.
Zamalek, the Egyptian side known as the “White Knights,” have been paired with AS Otoho of Congo Brazzaville for the quarter-finals. At the same time, Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca are set for a domestic showdown against fellow countrymen Olympique Safi.
Both clubs reached the knockout stage by winning their respective groups, though neither was perfect.
Wydad secured five victories but stumbled away to Maniema Union in Kinshasa, while Zamalek suffered a surprise defeat to ZESCO United in Zambia.
This tournament marks a significant milestone for Wydad; despite their extensive history in the Champions League, this will be their first-ever appearance in the knockout rounds of the Confederation Cup.
The bracket sets up a potential North African feast in the later rounds.
Should Zamalek advance past AS Otoho, they will face the winner of the clash between Egypt’s Al Masry and Algeria’s Chabab Belouizdad.
On the other side of the draw, a victory for Wydad in the Moroccan derby would pit them against either USM Alger or the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Maniema Union. These matchups ensure that the road to the final will remain a gruelling test of regional dominance.
The stakes for this season’s competition are higher than ever, with the winning club set to pocket a $2 million prize.
The quarter-final action is scheduled to begin with first-leg matches on March 15, followed by the return legs on March 22.
With the semi-finals slated for April and the finals in May, football fans across the continent are bracing for a series of high-intensity encounters as these legendary clubs vie for the title of the “African Europa League.”
