Certainly qualified

Inas Mazhar , Tuesday 14 Jan 2025

Egypt’s three clubs secured quarter-final spots in Africa’s two top football competitions while the fourth has a decent chance

Certainly qualified

 

 

The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League saw exciting games across all groups over the weekend, with some quarter-final spots secured and powerful battles setting up dramatic final matchday scenarios. Cafonline provided a group-by-group breakdown of Matchday 5 action as well as tables and the fixtures of the final round of group stage matches before the round of eight begins.

In the Champions League Group A, Al Hilal Omdurman were the first team to secure their quarter-final spot but lost 1-0 in their penultimate group match to Young Africans on Sunday night. Stephen Aziz Ki’s seventh-minute strike earned the Tanzanian side a crucial victory, keeping their hopes alive for progression. Meanwhile, MC Alger edged TP Mazembe 1-0 thanks to Akram Bouras’ first-half penalty, moving them to second with eight points. Mazembe, with just two points, is eliminated, while Young Africans must win their final game against MC Alger to secure qualification.

Group standings: Al Hilal - 10 pts *(qualified), MC Alger - 8 pts, Young Africans - 7 pts and TP Mazembe - 2 pts.

Group B saw ASFAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns book their quarter-final places of the group. ASFAR Rabat held Raja Casablanca to a 1-1 draw, with Noufel Zerhouni equalising from the spot after an own goal by Raja’s goalkeeper. Sundowns defeated Maniema Union 2-1 in a dramatic encounter, with Peter Shalulile and an own goal completing the comeback. Raja will compete with Sundowns for the last place from the group while Maniema are eliminated.

Group B standings: FAR Rabat - 9 pts *(qualified), Mamelodi Sundowns - 8 pts, Raja Casablanca - 5 pts and Maniema Union - 3 pts.

In Group C, Orlando Pirates defeated CR Belouizdad 2-1 to top Group C with 11 points to reach the quarter-finals. Goals from Relebohele Mofokeng and Talanti Mbatha secured the win, ending Belouizdad’s quarter-final hopes. Defending champions Ahly of Egypt also advanced with a 3-1 victory over Stade d’Abidjan, inspired by Imam Ashour’s hat-trick. The group’s top spot will be decided when Pirates face Ahly in Cairo on the final matchday.

Group C standings: Orlando Pirates - 11 pts *(qualified), Ahly - 10 pts *(qualified), CR Belouizdad - 6 pts and Stade d’Abidjan - 1 pt.

Group D saw both Esperance Tunis and Pyramids of Egypt progress to the quarter-finals with narrow wins. Esperance beat Djoliba 1-0 through Elias Mokwana’s goal, while Pyramids edged Sagrada 1-0 courtesy of Marawan Hamdi’s late strike. Both teams lead the group with 10 points, leaving Sagrada and Djoliba out of contention.

Group D standings: Esperance Tunis - 10 pts *(qualified), Pyramids - 10 pts *(qualified), Sagrada - 5 pts, Djoliba - 2 pts

Next fixtures (Matchday 6) will see Mazembe v Al Hilal and Young Africans v MC Alger in Group A. Group B matches will see Maniema v Raja Casablanca and Sundowns v FAR Rabat, while Group C includes Stade d’Abidjan v CR Belouizdad and Ahly v Orlando Pirates while Group D will feature Esperance v Sagrada and Pyramids v Djoliba.

In the CAF’s second tier competition, the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup, its penultimate group stage delivered thrilling matches as teams battled for quarter-final qualification.

Defending champions Zamalek of Egypt, USM Alger and Stellenbosch were among the big winners, securing their spots in the next round. With one matchday left, the race for the remaining places heats up. Below is a round-up of matches played over the weekend, the standings as well as the fixtures for the final round of matches of the group stage.

In Group A, CS Constantine secured their quarter-final berth with an emphatic 3-0 victory over CS Sfaxien in Algeria. Zakaria Ben Chaa was the star, scoring twice in the 31st and 71st minutes, while Mondher Tamine sealed the win in stoppage time. Sfaxien, winless in the group, struggled to contain Constantine’s relentless attack. In Angola, Simba SC earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Bravos do Maquis. The hosts took an early lead through Abednego Mosiatlhaga, but Simba’s Lionel Ateba equalised with a well-placed strike in the 69th minute, keeping the Tanzanian side in contention for the quarter-finals.

Group B saw Renaissance Berkane maintained their unbeaten run, playing out a goalless draw with CD Lunda Sul in Angola. Already through to the next stage, the Moroccan side tops the group with 13 points. Meanwhile, Stellenbosch joined Berkane in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Stade Malien. Fawaz Basadin opened the scoring from the penalty spot, and Jayden Adams added a second with a brilliant header, cementing Stellenbosch’s second place with nine points.

In Group C, USM Alger’s 2-1 triumph over Orapa United in Botswana secured their place at the top of Group C. Sekou Gassama and Hossam Ghosha scored for the Algerians, while Kamogelo Moloi netted a late consolation for Orapa. Jaraaf climbed to second place with a 1-0 victory over ASEC Mimosas. Abdoulaye Oualy’s first-half strike proved decisive, keeping Jaraaf in a strong position heading into the final matchday.

Group D saw Egypt’s Zamalek sealing their quarter-final spot with a 3-1 victory over Black Bulls. Hossam Ashraf scored twice, while Ahmed Sayed Zizo added the third to maintain Zamalek’s unbeaten record. Fellow country club Masri kept their hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against Enyimba. The Egyptians remain in second place with six points, needing a result against Black Bulls at home on Sunday 19 January in their final group match to secure qualification.

“I want to congratulate the two teams on the performance, it was an equal match, until Zamalek took advantage of the mistakes. We believe that we are developing, but the individual brilliance of Zamalek players decided the match,” Giostochio Jenny, coach of Black Bulls, said.

Christian Gross, Zamalek’s coach said after the Black Bulls game that “we took control of the game and translated it into goals. I am happy with the performance, and I see that we have the ability to offer more in this competition. I spoke with the players quietly at half time in order to correct some errors, and I assured them that if these instructions are implemented, we will score.”

Standings after Matchday 5:

Group A: Constantine - 12 pts *(qualified), Simba - 10 pts, Bravos do Maquis - 7 pts and Sfaxien - 0 pts

Group B: Berkane - 13 pts *(qualified), Stellenbosch - 9 pts *(qualified), Stade Malien - 4 pts and CD Lunda Sul - 2 pts

Group C: USM Alger - 11 pts *(qualified), Jaraaf - 8 pts, ASEC Mimosas - 5 pts, Orapa United - 2 pts

Group D: Zamalek - 11 pts *(qualified), Masri - 6 pts, Enyimba - 5 pts, Black Bulls - 4 pts

Matchday 6 fixtures are scheduled for 19 January when Sfaxien will take on Bravos do Maquis while Simba will face Constantine in Group A. Group B matches include Berkane v Stellenbosch and Stade Malien v CD Lunda Sul. Group C will feature Orapa United v ASEC Mimosas and USM Alger v Jaraaf while Group D will see Masri v Black Bulls and Zamalek v Enyimba.


* A version of this article appears in print in the 16 January, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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