Sfaxien to host Shooting Stars behind closed doors in CAF Confederation Cup second leg
Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien will host Nigeria’s Shooting Stars behind closed doors in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round tie.
The return fixture is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, at the Stade Taieb Mhiri in Sfax, with the Tunisian side set to play without the support of their home fans.
Sfaxien’s closed-door sanction stems from a previous disciplinary decision by the Confederation of African Football following incidents involving their supporters during the club’s 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
CAF had sanctioned the Tunisian club over crowd misconduct, including the use of pyrotechnic devices. Reports in Tunisia indicate that Sfaxien were handed a two-match stadium ban, with one of the matches initially suspended. Further incidents during their continental campaign reportedly led to the activation of the remaining sanction.
The development could hand Shooting Stars an added advantage as the Oluyole Warriors prepare for the decisive return leg in Tunisia.
The Ibadan-based club already hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg after defeating the three-time CAF Confederation Cup winners in Abeokuta.
Lucky Emmanuel scored the decisive goal as Shooting Stars marked their return to continental football after 27 years with a memorable victory.
Shooting Stars will now head to Tunisia knowing that a positive result will send them through to the next stage of the competition.
However, Sfaxien remain one of the most experienced sides in African club football and will be determined to overturn the deficit on home soil.
The absence of supporters could nevertheless change the atmosphere around the second leg, with the Tunisian giants unable to rely on the backing of their fans as they attempt to overturn the one-goal deficit.
For Shooting Stars, the task is clear: protect their advantage and complete the job in Tunisia.
There have also been suggestions that CAF could review or alter the implementation of the sanction. However, unless an official decision is communicated by CAF, the second leg is expected to proceed behind closed doors.
The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to the next round of the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup.