The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the highly anticipated quarter-final draw for the 2024/25 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, set to take place on February 20, 2025, in the vibrant city of Doha, Qatar. This event promises to be significant for clubs hoping to continue their paths toward continental glory.
The draw for the CAF Confederation Cup is scheduled to start at 14:00 GMT, followed by the draw for the CAF Champions League at 15:00 GMT. Both competitions will feature thrilling matchups as the best teams from across the continent vie for the prestigious titles.
Among the teams aiming to make their mark is Tanzania’s Simba SC, who have successfully secured their spot in the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup. This places them as the only Tanzanian club still competing on the continental stage, especially as Young Africans failed to progress from the Champions League.
The quarter-finals for both tournaments will be held over two legs. For the CAF Champions League, the first leg will take place on April 1-2, 2024, with the second leg on April 8-9, 2024. Meanwhile, the CAF Confederation Cup matches are set for April 2 and April 9, 2025.
Qualified teams for the CAF Champions League quarter-finals include formidable clubs such as Al Ahly SC, the defending champions from Egypt; Al Hilal from Sudan; AS FAR of Morocco; Espérance Sportive de Tunis from Tunisia; Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates from South Africa; Pyramids FC from Egypt; and MC Alger representing Algeria.
On the other hand, the CAF Confederation Cup sees Zamalek SC of Egypt, also the reigning champions; ASEC Mimosas from Côte d'Ivoire; Al Masry from Egypt; CS Constantine from Algeria; RS Berkane of Morocco; Simba SC from Tanzania; Stellenbosch FC from South Africa; and USM Alger from Algeria making up the quarter-final lineup.
All eyes will be particularly focused on Simba SC as they prepare for the draw. The club topped their group with 13 points, edging out CS Constantine, who finished with 12 points. This strong performance sets high expectations for the team's progression, and they are anticipated to face either Al Masry SC, Stellenbosch FC, or ASEC Mimosas.
Simba's Media and Information Manager, Ahmed Ally, shared his confidence about the team’s chances: "We believe in our squad and our technical team. The quarter-finals will be tough, but we are prepared. Our goal is to go all the way in this tournament." His sentiments reflect the hopes of Tanzanian fans as Simba SC seeks to advance far in the tournament.
This quarter-final draw not only symbolizes the pursuit of glory for the clubs involved but also evokes excitement across the continent as teams strategize and prepare for the intense rounds to come. With fans eager for action, the upcoming month promises nerve-wracking fixtures as clubs battle for dominance and pride on African soil.
Looking toward the draw date, teams will be ready to embrace the potential challenges and dream of the continental titles. Whether through shock results or superior performance, the 2024/25 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals are set to be memorable for fans and clubs alike.