TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup: Second-leg excitement on the cards as heavyweight names face tricky turnarounds
The first Preliminary Round of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup stages its decisive second leg matches from Friday, with places in October’s final qualifying hurdle at stake across the continent.
Several clubs return home protecting narrow cushions, while a clutch of big names must repair first-leg damage in front of demanding crowds.
After a weekend of upsets and razor-thin margins, these ties now resemble one-off cup finals: keep your nerve, manage game states, and you’re 180 minutes from the group stage in November.
Here are the pick of the return fixtures and what to watch for.
Chiefs under pressure, Kabuscorp sensing an upset
A 1–0 defeat in the first leg leaves Kaizer Chiefs with work to do against Kabuscorp of Angola who are to take the counter-punch blueprint to South Africa.
Felix Zulu’s late strike in Blantyre means Mighty Wanderers travel with a 1–0 lead over Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana.
An early away goal for Wanderers would change the maths completely; otherwise expect waves from the hosts.
Otohô’s 2–1 away success over Angola side Primeiro de Agosto was one of the fist-leg’s power results. Compact and ruthless on transition, the Congolese flipped the tie and must now control the return leg to advance.
Kotoko’s breathless thriller rolls into Ilorin
Few first legs matched the excitement in Accra, where Kotoko edged a 4–3 classic.
Expect tempo from minute one as Kotoko will lean on James Ablorh’s channel runs in transition, while Kwara must tighten rest defence to avoid being ripped open again.
Kassi Théodore’s tidy finish in Cameroon earned San Pedro a 1–0 first-leg edge and, crucially, an away goal.
Aigle Royal chased late in Yaoundé without reward; they’ll have to open up in Cote d'Ivoire, which should suit San Pedro’s ability to spring wide runners into space.
Hafia and Stade Tunisien in command
Two clubs with continental pedigree will carry clear cushions. Hafia’s 3–0 away win over Bhantal in Sierra Leone showcased calm finishing and game management. The Guineans will be pragmatic at home.
Stade Tunisien’s 2–0 first-leg control through midfield should translate in a home dominance — though a SNIM of Mauritania have nothing to lose when they travel to face the North Africans.
East African derby stays tense
A 2–2 humdinger in Kampala between NEC of Uganda and Nairobi United has set up a cracking return.
The Ugandans press high and break quickly; an area they will seek to exploit in the return leg.
Gabonese side FC Libreville’s 2–0 home win over Zesco United was built on a fast start and smart defending. The Zambians must force the pace, but guarding counters will be just as important. An early ZESCO goal could flip the mood.
The second leg matches will run from 26–28 September. Aggregate winners move to the Second Preliminary Round (17–19 & 24–26 October), a step from the group stage on 21 November.