Equatorial Guinea’s Panthers FC have withdrawn from the second preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup, citing severe financial difficulties that have made it impossible for the club to continue in the continental competition.
The club were scheduled to face Algerian giants USM Alger, but the financial burden of playing their home matches outside Equatorial Guinea has forced them to abandon their campaign despite efforts to find a cost effective solution.
Panthers FC’s difficulties stem from the absence of a CAF approved stadium in their home country, compelling the club to arrange matches abroad and shoulder substantial expenses covering travel, accommodation, stadium rental and match organisation.
During the first preliminary round against Benin’s ASPAC FC, Panthers hosted the first leg in Cameroon, paying for flights and accommodation for their players, stadium rental and match officials’ expenses. They subsequently travelled to Lomé, Togo, for the return leg, covering the squad’s flights, accommodation and meals during a week long stay.
With their financial resources depleted, the club sought CAF approval for Mongomo Stadium to host the first leg against USM Alger. However, the requested inspection could not be carried out, leaving Panthers searching for another venue.
Although they secured approval to use a stadium in Douala, Cameroon, the associated costs proved prohibitive. The club subsequently agreed to surrender home advantage and play both legs in Algeria, hoping to avoid stadium rental fees and the expense of travelling separately to Cameroon and Algeria.
Despite those efforts, the financial strain ultimately proved unbearable, forcing Panthers FC to withdraw from the competition.
The withdrawal represents a major setback for the Equatorial Guinean side and highlights the financial challenges facing clubs from countries without CAF approved stadiums, where participation in continental competitions can require significant additional expenditure before a ball is even kicked.
