Pyramids, Agadir looking good for semifinals

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Mar 08, 2020. 09:00

The CAF Confederation Cup will wrap up its quarterfinal ties with four matches across the continent on Sunday 8 March, with North African sides Pyramids (Egypt) and Hassania Agadir (Morocco) looking good to progress.

Pyramids will host Zambia’s Zanaco in the first match of the day, kicking off in mid-afternoon in Cairo. Coach Ante Cacic’s team hold a 3-0 lead from the first-leg in Lusaka and will be confident of adding to that advantage to move into the final four in style.

Two early-evening matches take place in Agadir and Conakry, with Hassania hosting Libya’s Al Nasr and Guinea’s Horoya tackling Nigeria’s Enyimba respectively.

While Hassania Agadir hold a 5-0 lead and will progress in comfort, barring some miraculous recovery from their opponents, the all-West African clash is much more delicately poised.

The first leg in Aba ended 1-1, with Horoya hoping that an away goal from Boniface Haba helps them have the edge over the People’s Elephant.

The final match of Sunday is a night clash in which Morocco’s RS Berkane host Egyptian side Al Masry at their Municipal Stadium. Once again this is an evenly balanced tie, with the teams playing out a great 2-2 draw in Suez last weekend.

RSB will hope that two away goals from Mouhcine Iajour prove crucial, but the Green Eagles are free scorers and will be a major threat in their own right.

In addition, both matches in Morocco are set to be played behind closed doors, with the country’s football authorities taking the decision after confirmation of a first Coronavirus carrier earlier in the week.

The winners between Pyramids and Zanaco will face either Horoya or Enyimba in the semifinals, while Hassania Agadir or Al Nasr will tackle RS Berkane or Al Masry.

CAF Confederation Cup fixtures, Sunday 8 March

15:00: Pyramids v Zanaco

18:00: Hassania Agadir v Al Nasr

18:00: Horoya AC v Enyimba

21:00: RS Berkane v Al Masry