The draw for the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League has stirred excitement, highlighting some thrilling matchups poised to capture the attention of the continent's football fans.
Defending champions Al Ahly will face the Sudanese side Al-Hilal Omdurman after the draw was conducted at the beIN studio in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday. This matchup stands out not only because of Al Ahly's status as the reigning champions but also due to their ambition to secure their third consecutive title, extending their record to 13 total championships.
Al Ahly's path to this stage was rocky; the club narrowly avoided elimination during the group stages. Now, they aim to carry the momentum of their recent successes—can they fend off Al Hilal's resurgence? Al-Hilal enters the match filled with confidence after topping their group, which featured tough competition including Young Africans SC from Tanzania and five-time champions TP Mazembe.
Al Hilal's achievement is particularly commendable considering the challenges posed by the political unrest currently affecting Sudan, which forced the team to play its matches outside the country. Despite these adversities, Al Hilal's manager, Florent Ibenge, has marshaled the team to perform admirably on the continental stage.
Should Al Hilal pull off the upset and eliminate the 12-time champions, they would progress to face the winner of the quarterfinal clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance Sportive de Tunis. This tie offers another compelling narrative as it’s a rematch of last year's semifinal, where Esperance emerged victorious 2-0 on aggregate.
The Sundowns, who have proved to be formidable opponents, will be led by Portuguese coach, Miguel Cardoso, who faces his former club, Esperance. It is certainly going to be a strategic face-off.
Meanwhile, Pyramids FC from Egypt will take on the Moroccan club AS FAR, which is also enjoying its share of success. Pyramids FC is on strong footing following impressive domestic performances, and they hope to translate this form onto the continental stage. Having gone undefeated throughout the group phase, AS FAR aims to make it to the semifinals for the first time in nearly thirty years.
The other quarterfinal will see South Africa's Orlando Pirates go up against Algeria's MC Alger. Orlando Pirates secured their place among the best after topping their group with the highest points tally of any team, remaining unbeaten. MC Alger, on the other hand, boasts a solid defensive record, having conceded only two goals throughout the group stages, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense clash.
The knockout rounds promise thrilling football action as the first legs of these quarterfinal matches are scheduled for April 1, 2025, followed by the return legs on April 8, 2025. Fans across Africa are sure to be glued to their screens as the continent's top clubs vie for the prestigious title.