The draw for the African club competitions, including the African Confederation Cup, will take place today at the Egyptian Football Federation headquarters in Cairo. AS Real, the Malian representative, is placed in Pot 3 alongside Al Ahly Tripoli from Libya, Singida Black Stars from Tanzania, and Black Bulls from Mozambique. The team aims to advance from the group stage, with coach Baye Ba emphasizing the importance of winning home matches and securing favorable results away.
AS Real's coach, Baye Ba, expressed his team's determination to make a strong impression in the competition. He stated that the players have worked hard to reach the group stage and now need to focus on achieving their goal of progressing to the next round. Ba stressed that the team will face a tough challenge, regardless of their opponents, but is committed to giving their best and making Mali proud.
The Confederation Cup draw will be followed by the Champions League draw, which will feature top African clubs. Unfortunately, Mali will not have a representative in the Champions League, as Stade Malien de Bamako and Djoliba AC were eliminated in the preliminary rounds. The last two campaigns saw Stadistes and Rouges participate in the prestigious competition, with the Blancs reaching the quarterfinals.
The Confederation Cup group stage draw will feature teams from four pots. Pot 1 includes Al Ahly from Egypt, USM Alger from Algeria, AS FAR from Morocco, and the winner of the CR Belouizdad vs AS Douanes match. Pot 2 comprises Raja Club Athletic from Morocco, AS Maniema Union from DR Congo, Azam FC from Tanzania, and CS Sfaxien from Tunisia.
The draw for the group stage will determine the opponents for AS Real and other participating teams. The group stage schedule is set, with the first matchday taking place from November 27-29, the second matchday from December 4-6, and the third matchday from December 18-20. The second leg will start on January 8-10, 2027, with the fourth matchday, followed by the fifth matchday from January 15-17, and the sixth and final matchday on January 22-24, 2027.
AS Real will be participating in their third group stage, having previously done so in 2014 and 2022. Coach Baye Ba and his team are eager to make a strong impression and advance to the next round. The team's performance will be closely watched by Malian football fans, who are hoping for a successful campaign.
The Confederation Cup is a prestigious competition that brings together top clubs from across Africa. AS Real's participation is a testament to the team's hard work and dedication. With a tough challenge ahead, the team will need to be at their best to achieve their goals and make a lasting impact in the competition.
Key points
- AS Real will face a tough challenge in the African Confederation Cup group stage.
- The team's coach, Baye Ba, is determined to make a strong impression.
- The draw will determine AS Real's opponents in the group stage.
