Six teams have solidified their places in the highly anticipated quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League after a series of intense Match Day 5 fixtures that unfolded on Friday and Saturday.
Leading the charge is the defending champion and powerhouse from Egypt, Al Ahly, who clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Ghana’s Medeama, securing their path to the knockout phase with a game to spare, as they continue their quest for a back-to-back title triumph.
Joining Al Ahly in the quarter-finals are five other distinguished African clubs: Asec Mimosas from Ivory Coast, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Angola’s Petro de Luanda, TP Mazembe of DR Congo whooo are former African Champions and FIFA Club World Cup finalists, and Tanzania’s Young Africans.
Of the six qualifying teams, only two are yet to savor continental success. Al Ahly, Asec Mimosas, Mamelodi Sundowns, and TP Mazembe boast illustrious histories in African football, having previously lifted the coveted club football trophy.
With the official qualification of these six teams, anticipation builds for the gripping conclusion of the group stages. The spotlight now shifts to the final Match Day 6 scheduled for March 1st to 2nd, where the last two available spots will be fiercely contested.
Mamelodi Sundowns and TP Mazembe have secured their places from Group A, while Group D’s outcome was decided by Al Ahly and Young Africans’ victories. This leaves Group B and C as the battlegrounds for the remaining spots.
In Group B, Morocco’s Wydad AC, reinvigorated after a slow start, notched a crucial 1-0 win over Jwaneng Galaxy in Botswana, drawing level on points with Simba AC. The upcoming clash between Simba AC and Jwaneng Galaxy will be decisive, while Wydad AC faces a formidable challenge against Asec Mimosas.
Meanwhile, in Group C, Petro de Luanda’s qualification intensifies the race for the second spot, contested between Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Al-Hilal. A highly anticipated showdown between these two sides promises an electrifying spectacle in Tunis on Saturday evening, with both teams vying for advancement.
As the competition heats up, football enthusiasts eagerly await the drama and excitement that the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League are set to deliver.
(Additional reporting from CAF website)
