Final group placings are decided on head-to-head in the first instance, with the top two in each pool advancing to the last eight.
Here are the permutations in each pool.
GROUP A
Standings: USM Alger 13 points (+5 goal difference), Olympic Safi 12 (+3), San Pedro 3 (-2), Djoliba 1 (-6)
The only thing to be decided in this pool is top spot and who will be a seeded team in the quarter-final draw, with Algeria’s USM Alger and Olympic Safi from Morocco having long secured the top two places.
They will go head-to-head for the number one position when they meet in Algiers on Saturday, with a draw enough for USM Alger.
Mali’s Djoliba and San Pedro of Ivory Coast meet to avoid the wooden spoon in Bamako, with the home side needing a win.
GROUP B
Standings: Wydad Casablanca 12 points (+5 goal difference), Maniema Union 9 (+2), Azam 9 (+0), Nairobi United 0 (-7)
Three-time champions Wydad Casablanca from Morocco need just a point from their final clash at home to Azam from Tanzania to seal top spot in the pool, though there is a complicated scenario where they could miss out altogether.
If Azam are victorious in Casablanca and DR Congo’s Maniema Union defeat already eliminated Nairobi United in Lubumbashi as expected, then there will be three teams on 12 points.
That will mean the head-to-head results between the trio are calculated in a mini-league to see who finish in the top two, essentially removing the Nairobi United results from the pool.
Maniema are looking strong in that regard, and Azam need to win by a couple of goals at Wydad to come into the equation.
GROUP C
Standings: CR Belouizdad 12 points (+5 goal difference), AS Otoho 9 (+5), Singida Black Stars 4 (-3), Stellenbosch FC 4 (-7)
This is another pool where the top two places are already decided, but the order is not yet confirmed.
Algeria’s CR Belouizdad head the group and need a point at home to second-placed AS Otoho from Congo to make sure they stay there when they clash in Algiers on Sunday.
Any sort of win will be enough to see Otoho finish top, as they thumped Sead Ramovic’s side 4-1 in the reverse fixture.
Stellenbosch FC and Singida Black Stars from Tanzania are playing for pride in their final pool game and to avoid bottom spot, with Gavin Hunt likely to rotate his team in this dead rubber.
GROUP D
Standings: Kaizer Chiefs 10 points (+2 goal difference), Zamalek 8 (+1), Al Masry 7 (+0), ZESCO United 3 (-3)
Kaizer Chiefs head the pool going into the final round of fixtures but are by no means assured of going to the quarter-finals, with a tough away day at Egyptian giants Zamalek.
AmaKhosi need a point to advance and book top spot in the pool, but with Zamalek fighting for their lives, and likely eliminated in that scenario, it is easier said than done.
If Chiefs lose and Egyptian side Al Masry defeat already eliminated ZESCO United from Zambia at home as expected, then Zamalek top the pool and Chiefs and Masry have 10 points each.
As both won 2-1 at home in their head-to-head clashes in the pool, that is not a factor, leaving goal difference, or potentially goals scored, as the decider.
Chiefs are on +2 (six goals scored) and Masry on +0 (seven goals scored). If the South African side lose by a single-goal margin and Masry win by a single-goal margin, then they will be level on goal difference and it will come down to goals scored.
It could get even more complicated, though. If Masry win 1-0 and Chiefs lose 3-2, for example, they will have the same points, head-to-head, goal difference and goals scored.
The deciding factor after that is away goals scored in all group matches. Chiefs are currently on two (but would add two more in that example), and Masry have four, so it would be level again.
After that, it goes to the drawing of lots for a quarter-final place.
The upshot is that, on the balance of probabilities, Chiefs most likely need a draw at Zamalek to advance.
