CAF Champions League
Quarter-final race intensifies, FAR Rabat and Raja set for Moroccan derby showdown
The penultimate round of the CAF Champions League group stage kicks off on Friday, with teams across all groups battling to secure quarter-final spots.
Al Hilal of Sudan is the only team assured of progression, leaving the other clubs fighting for the remaining slots.
Group A
Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman, already through to the quarterfinals, host Young Africans on Sunday in a clash that could shape the final standings.
Al Hilal leads the group with 10 points and will aim to solidify their dominance. Young Africans, buoyed by their comeback win over TP Mazembe on Matchday 4, need a positive result to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Meanwhile, MC Alger will look to strengthen their position when they host Mazembe on Friday. A win for the Algerians would move them closer to securing the second quarter-final slot.
Group B
Morocco’s FAR Rabat will seek to secure their place in the next round when they host Raja Casablanca in a high-stakes Moroccan derby on Saturday.
FAR Rabat sits atop the group with eight points and needs just a draw to advance. Raja, coming off a narrow victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, will aim to avenge their first-round loss to their domestic rivals. Sundowns travel to Congo to face Maniema Union, with both sides desperate for points to remain in contention.
Group C
Orlando Pirates lead Group C but face a tough test at home against CR Belouizdad on Sunday.
The Pirates, on eight points, can secure qualification with a win. Belouizdad, sitting two points behind, will look to build on their dramatic victory over Al Ahly.
The Egyptian title holders, now third in the group, must defeat bottom-placed Stade d’Abidjan on Saturday to avoid a shock early exit.
Group D
Group D remains finely poised, with Pyramids and Esperance tied on seven points. Pyramids travel to Angola to face Sagrada Esperança on Saturday, needing a draw to book their spot in the next round. Sagrada, on five points, will look to capitalize on home advantage. Meanwhile, Esperance will visit Djoliba on Sunday, seeking to rebound from their loss to Pyramids and secure their qualification.
Matchday 5 Fixtures
Group A
- MC Alger v TP Mazembe – 10 Jan, 19:00 GMT
- Al Hilal Omdurman v Young Africans – 12 Jan, 19:00 GMT
Group B
- Maniema Union v Mamelodi Sundowns – 11 Jan, 13:00 GMT
- FAR Rabat v Raja Casablanca – 11 Jan, 19:00 GMT
Group C
- Stade d’Abidjan v Al Ahly – 11 Jan, 16:00 GMT
- Orlando Pirates v CR Belouizdad – 12 Jan, 13:00 GMT
Group D
- Sagrada Esperança v Pyramids – 11 Jan, 16:00 GMT
- Djoliba v Esperance – 12 Jan, 16:00 GMT
-CAF
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Egyptian giants and record winners of the CAF Champions League were stunned on Saturday in Cairo by visiting South Africa’s Orlando Pirates.
The South African won 2-1 to clinch the top spot in the Group C of the Champions League.
Relebohile Mofokeng broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, capitalizing on defensive errors. Al Ahly leveled in the 69th minute through Hussein El Shahat, who brilliantly lobbed Orlando’s keeper.
However, Gilberto’s late strike in the 83rd minute sealed the win for the visitors.
Al Ahly had their chances but were left frustrated following Rami Rabia’s disallowed goal which could have restored parity.
Despite the loss, Al Ahly, led by Marcel Koller, advanced as group runners-up with 10 points, while Orlando topped the group with 14 points.
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Algerian giants Chabab Belouizdad dismantled Stade d’Abidjan 6-0 in their final group fixture.
A clinical display at the July 5th Stadium saw Abdel Rahman Meziane, Mohamed Islam Belkheir, Aymen Mahious, Razki Hamroun, and Marouane Zerrouki find the net in a dominant performance.
Chabab Belouizdad, now with 9 points, narrowly missed out on quarter-final qualification, finishing third in the group. Stade d’Abidjan, winless with just one point, ended their campaign at the bottom of the group.
Earlier in the day, MC Alger secured their place in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter-finals following a goalless draw against Young Africans in Tanzania on Saturday.
The Algerian side needed just a point to join already-qualified Al Hilal in the knockout stages, and their professional display saw them finish second in Group A with nine points.
The stalemate ended Young Africans’ hopes of progression, with the Tanzanian champions finishing third on eight points despite an impressive debut campaign in the group stages.
The result means both North African sides advance from Group A, with TP Mazembe finishing bottom despite their convincing victory over Al Hilal in the other match.
In the group’s other game , TP Mazembe ended their campaign with an emphatic 4-0 victory over group winners Al Hilal in Kinshasa on Saturday.
Despite already being eliminated, the DR Congo giants produced their best performance of this season’s competition with Jean Diouf opening the scoring in the 21st minute before Ibrahima Keita doubled the lead eight minutes later.
Mercy Ngembe added a third just before the hour mark, with Souleymane Chaibou completing the rout in the 89th minute.
The result had no bearing on Al Hilal’s position as Group A winners, having already secured qualification with 10 points from their previous matches.
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AS FAR of Rabat booked their place in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in the group stage era after a 1-1 draw against Moroccan rival Raja Casablanca in Rabat on Saturday night.
The Royal Army took the lead in the 40th minute when Raja goalkeeper Anas Zniti accidentally turned a corner kick into his own net.
Raja levelled the score in the 77th minute through Noufel Zerhouni, who converted a penalty after Maamouri was brought down in the box.
Moments later, Raja thought they had taken the lead when Issa Ben Omar scored, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the FAR goalkeeper.
FAR Rabat now leads Group B with nine points, securing their quarter-final spot, while Raja remains on five points, facing an uphill battle to qualify.
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