Quarterfinal berths up for grabs in Champions League this weekend

Quarterfinal berths in the CAF Champions League will be up for grabs this weekend, as Matchday 5 of the group stage sees fixtures played from Friday to Sunday.

Only Sudan’s Al Hilal (top of Group A on 10 points) have already secured passage to the next phase of the competition, and Tanzania’s Young Africans (3rd in Group A on 4 points) will have the challenge of facing them in neutral Nouakchott on Sunday night.

Yanga claimed a clutch 3-1 win over TP Mazembe last weekend to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive, with coach Sead Ramovic hopeful that his team can build momentum from that triumph.

“We have full confidence in ourselves,” said the former TS Galaxy boss. “We are working well as a team. We played effectively both with and without the ball and we will continue to improve.”

The weekend’s action opens on Friday night with the first Group A game, pitting MC Alger (2nd on 5 points) against bottom-of-the-log TP Mazembe (2 points) in Algiers, before Saturday’s afternoon match sees Mamelodi Sundowns face a tough battle in Kinshasa against Group B rivals AS Maniema Union.

Sundowns (2nd on 5 points) could secure progression into the final eight with a win over Union (4th on 3 points), if Saturday’s night game in Meknes, a Moroccan derby between ASFAR (1st on 8 points) and Raja Casablanca (3rd on 4 points), ends with the table-toppers claiming a second win over their compatriots.

The Brazilians are looking to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Raja last weekend, with coach Miguel Cardoso scrambling to reorganise his team due to the unavailability of key players (including Bathusi Aubaas and Khuliso Mudau, who were both sent off in Casablanca).

“So, let's recover as much as we can, our players. Let's also see because we lost three players for the next match, let's try to see who is ready and in condition to give the answer we need,” said the Portuguese tactician.

“For sure, we will do it and see the best tactical approach so we can win the next match and make the qualification closer.”

In Group C, log leaders Orlando Pirates (8 points) and second-placed Al Ahly (7 points) have their fates in their own hands: the combination of a win for both clubs this weekend would see them secure advancement into the quarterfinals.

The Red Eagles will be away to bottom-of-the-log Stade d’Abidjan (1 point) in the Ivory Coast on Saturday evening, while the Buccaneers will host third-placed CR Belouizdad (6 points) in a key clash in Soweto on Sunday afternoon.

“It is in our hands to find ourselves in the quarterfinals,” said Pirates coach Jose Riveiro. “But there are still a lot of things to do. It is not done, not even close to advancing to the next round because we still have to play two more tough games.”

A tight Group D will feature second-placed Pyramids (7 points) away to third-placed Sagrada Esperanca (5 points) in Luanda on Saturday evening, while Sunday’s evening battle in Bamako, pits leaders Esperance de Tunis (7 points) against bottom-of-the-log Djoliba (2 points).

CAF Champions League weekend fixtures

Times CAT

Friday 10 January

9pm: MC Alger v TP Mazembe

Saturday 11 January

3pm: Maniema Union v Mamelodi Sundowns

6pm: Sagrada Esperanca v Pyramids

6pm: Stade d’Abidjan v Al Ahly

9pm: ASFAR v Raja Casablanca

Sunday 12 January

3pm: Orlando Pirates v CR Belouizdad

6pm: Djoliba v Esperance de Tunis

9pm: Al Hilal v Young Africans