Chase for continental glory resumes

The road to the final of Africa’s top club competitions: the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup reaches suspense phase this weekend as continent’s top clubs start the first leg journey of the quarter-finals.

The action got underway yesterday evening as four-time champions, ES Tunis, of Tunisia made their way to Algeria to face JS Kabylie, who are working towards a third TotalEnergies Champions League medal, having won it in 1981 and 1990.

This afternoon will see Tanzanian football powerhouses, Simba AC, welcoming the reigning champions, Wydad AC, in a fixture that is set to bring Dar es Salaam to a complete standstill.

Later this evening, South Africa’s MamelodiSundowns, who have raised their hands as one of the competition favourites face Algeria’s CR Belouizdad, who are aiming to advance beyond the quarter-final stage for this first time.

In a corresponding tie, competition record holders, Al Ahly, welcome Raja CA who are yearning for a TotalEnergies CAF Champions League gold medal, having last won it in 1999.

Sunday will be a feast of TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup fixtures with reigning Nigerian Premier League champions, Rivers United, kicking off their first ever TotalEnergies CAF Confederations Cup quarter-final fixture against Tanzanian champions, Young Africans SC, in the afternoon.

Egyptian side, Pyramids FC, then welcome South Africa’s Marumo Gallants in a north-versus-south tie in the evening, while Tunisia’s US Monastir, who celebrate a 100-year milestone face Ivorian side, ASEC Mimosas, who are working towards reclaiming their position in African club football.

The quarter-finals round up with a marquee north African tie when Algeria’s USMA takes on AS FAR of Morocco, who are gunning for their second TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup title, having won it in 2005 and finished second the following season. –CafOnline