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Sundowns and Pirates chasing progress in Champions League

rugby02 January 2025 17:30| © Mzansi Football
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Tshegofatso Mabasa © Backpagepix

Sudan’s Al Hilal could continue to confound the odds and become the first side to qualify for the African Champions League quarterfinals if they win at home to Mouloudia Alger this weekend.

There is also an opportunity for both Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates to strengthen their chances of advancing to the last eight as the fourth round of group matches are hosted, starting on Friday and ending late on Sunday.

Sundowns travel away to Morocco to face Raja Casablanca but Pirates have a home match against struggling Stade Abidjan, where they are overwhelming favourites.

Reigning champions Al Ahly could also book their berth if they win away in Algeria on Friday.

GROUP A

Al Hilal have been exiled in the wake of the on-going civil conflict in Sudan and are based now in Mauritania, where they play in the national league as guests along with compatriots Al Merreikh.

Despite their difficult circumstances, Al Hilal have been able to win their opening three Group A matches and sit comfortably on top of the table.

They host MC Alger in Nouakchott on Sunday, having surprised with a 1-0 win in Algiers in their last outing on 14 December.

It led to the firing of MC Alger’s French coach Patrice Beaumelle, the former Zambia national coach.

His place has been taken by ex-Tunisian international defender Khaled Ben Yahia, who has since posted two wins and a draw in domestic league matches.

Tanzania’s Young Africans, under former TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic, and TP Mazembe meet in the other Group A clash in Dar-es-Salaam on Saturday with both clubs looking for a first win in the group stages.

Yanga got a stoppage time equaliser ro collect their first points last time out when the pair met in Lubumbashi last month.

The Tanzanian champions have since scored 16 goals in four league games and are now one point behind leaders, and archrivals Simba, in the standings.

GROUP B

Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces are best placed to hold onto their lead, which they shared at the halfway point of the group competition with Mamelodi Sundowns on five points.

Both teams have a single victory and two draws from their opening five matches but the army club look to have an easier tie as they are at home on Saturday to rookies Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo while Sundowns must go away to meet Raja Casablanca at the same time.

Royal Armed Forces are hosting their match in Meknes as their stadium in Rabat is under renovation while there is concern over the standard of the playing surface at Casablanca’s Stade Larbi Zaouli where Raja are hosting the Brazilians.

The pair met in Pretoria last month in the first match in charge for Miguel Cardoso in charge of Sundowns and he has gone onto another three successive victories in the Betway Premiership, all without conceding.

Raja’s loss spelt the end for their Portuguese coach Sa Pinto, fired after the trip to Pretoria.

Hafid Abdessadek has since taken temporary charger but Raja lost away at the weekend to Renaissane Berkane in the Morocco Botola league to slip down to ninth spot.

GROUP C

Al Ahly set out a strong message of intent with a 6-1 home win over Chabab Belouizdad and are now headed to Algeria for Friday night’s return meeting.

The Champions League holders will advance to 10 points if they are victorious again, but this is a must-win is Belouizdad, who will likely have Khanyisa Mayo in their starting line-up.

Pirates are up against Stade Abidjan at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday, looking to keep up their unbeaten run in the group.

The Buccaneers should have won in Abidjan three weeks ago but paid the price for squandering a myriad of chances and, after taking the lead, gave up a goal to the Ivorian rookies, who are competing in the group phase for the first time.

It was Stade’s first point of the competition.

GROUP D

There is a top of the table clash in Cairo on Sunday between Pyramids of Egypt and last season’s runners-up Esperance, who have a three-point advantage.

Pyramids were beaten 2-0 in the initial encounter between the two sides in Tunis in mid-December with Bafana Bafana’s Elias Mokwana among the scorers for the home side.

But now Esperance are away and with top place under threat.

Both clubs have been busy in domestic action since with Esperance winning two league games and drawing the other and Pyramids winning three and drawing one.

The other group encounter sees Djoliba of Mali visiting Sagrada Esperanca of Angola in Luanda on Sunday, with both still looking for their first point of the season.

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