San Pedro seize first-leg edge as Dicha hold Al-Ittihad in Confederation Cup openers
The 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup began with a tight pair of first-leg ties on Friday, as San Pedro earned a valuable 1-0 away win at Aigle Royal of Cameroon while Ethiopia’s Wolayta Dicha and Libya’s Al-Ittihad cancelled each other out in a goalless stalemate.
With giants waiting in next month’s second preliminary round, the early margins already look decisive ahead of next weekend’s returns.
San Pedro took control of their tie with a composed second-half strike from Kassi Théodore on 56 minutes to defeat Cameroon’s Aigle Royal.
After a scrappy opening period, the visitors showed greater clarity after the interval, working the ball into the box before Kassi steered home from close range.
Aigle Royal pressed late, forcing a handful of set pieces and long-range efforts, but the Côte d’Ivoire side managed the closing stages smartly, slowing the pace and pinning the hosts away from the danger zone.
The Cameroonians now face a demanding trip to Abidjan where they must score to keep the tie alive. San Pedro, buoyed by a clean sheet on the road, can approach the second leg with control of the game state and the option to counter.
In Addis Ababa, Wolayta Dicha and Al-Ittihad fought to a 0-0 draw that kept the contest finely balanced. The Ethiopians saw more of the ball in the first half and twice threatened from wide deliveries, but Al-Ittihad’s defence—well organised and physically strong—protected goalkeeper positions with minimum fuss.
After the break the Libyans enjoyed their own spell, striking the outside of the post from distance and asking questions in transition, only for Dicha to respond with late pressure that lacked a finishing touch.
Both ties will be settled simply on aggregate next week—extra time and penalties if required. For Dicha and Al-Ittihad, everything remains on the line in Tripoli. For Aigle Royal, the task is clear: find attacking fluency in Côte d’Ivoire or bow out at the first hurdle.
The opening slate continues across the weekend, with 29 first-leg matches setting the tone for a campaign that promises glamour ties in October and group-stage football from November.