Rabah Madjer predicts intense Algerian clash in TotalEnerges CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals

Algerian football legend Rabah Madjer has described the upcoming TotalEneriges CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final clash between USM Alger and CS Constantine as a highly unpredictable encounter.

Speaking following Thursday's draw in the studios of beIN Sports, Madjer highlighted the unique challenge posed by the all-Algerian matchup, noting that both teams are familiar with each other's tactics and style, having competed against each other in the domestic league.

“The match will be beyond expectations because each team is an open book to the other, and both know all the information about the competitor, especially since they play in the local league,” Madjer said.

The quarter-final draw for the CAF Confederation Cup, held in Doha on Thursday, also saw defending champions Zamalek of Egypt paired against South African debutants Stellenbosch, while last season’s runners-up, Morocco’s RS Berkane, will face Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas.

The final quarter-final tie will see Egyptian club Al Masry take on Tanzania’s Simba SC in a bid for a place in the last four.

Quarter-Final Fixtures:

• Stellenbosch (South Africa) vs. Zamalek (Egypt)
• ASEC Mimosas (Cote d'Ivoire) vs. RS Berkane (Morocco)
• Simba SC (Tanzania) vs. Al Masry (Egypt)
• CS Constantine (Algeria) vs. USM Alger (Algeria)

The quarter-final matches will be played over two legs, scheduled for April 2 and April 9. The first leg will take place at the home ground of the team listed first in the draw.

Path to the Semi-Finals

The winner of the ASEC vs. RS Berkane clash will face the victor of the all-Algerian showdown between USM Alger and CS Constantine in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the winner of the Stellenbosch vs. Zamalek tie will meet the winner of the Al Masry vs. Simba encounter in the last four.

Madjer also weighed in on the overall competition, tipping last season’s finalists, Zamalek and RS Berkane, as the teams most likely to go the distance.

“The confrontations will be difficult by all standards for all teams, but Zamalek and Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, the two finalists of the last edition, are the candidates to go far,” he stated.

Egyptian teams have faced tough challenges against South African opposition in recent years, adding further intrigue to Zamalek’s quarter-final matchup against Stellenbosch.

With the competition heating up, the Confederation Cup knockout rounds promise to deliver high-intensity football as the continent’s top clubs battle for continental supremacy.