African competitions: first club qualifies for the group stage

25.10.26 15:00 CAF Confederation Cup

USM Alger

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The Panthers

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USM Alger have become the first team to secure qualification for the group stage of the Confederation Cup for the 2026-2027 season, after Equatorial Guinean club The Panthers withdrew, as they were unable to cover the participation costs.

CAF confirms USM Alger’s qualification after The Panthers’ withdrawal

The management of the “Soustara” club confirmed on Monday that it had received an official notification from the competitions committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), stating that its opponent had withdrawn, allowing USM Alger to obtain a direct place in the group stage.

The two second preliminary-round matches were scheduled to be played in Algeria, both the first leg and the return leg, with USM Alger expected to cover The Panthers delegation’s accommodation costs, but not the travel expenses.

However, the Equatorial Guinean club was unable to raise the funds required to travel to Algeria and decided to withdraw from the competition.

In the statement published by USM Alger on its official pages, it said:

“USM Alger informs its supporters, all media outlets and the sporting public that it has received an official communication from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), confirming the withdrawal of The Panthers from the second preliminary round qualifying for the group stage of the 2026-2027 CAF Confederation Cup, due to financial constraints.

As a result, the Confederation of African Football has confirmed the cancellation of the first- and second-leg matches between the two teams and has officially validated USM Alger’s qualification for the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.”

Meanwhile, the draw for the group stage of the African Champions League and the Confederation Cup is expected to take place on October 28 at the federation’s headquarters in 6 October, according to reports from Egyptian media.

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Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.

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USM Alger

The Panthers

CAF Confederation Cup