CAFCL: Al Ahly & Esperance out to book quarter-final spots

Rami Ramy Rabia of Al Ahly Achraf Dari of Al Ahly celebrates victory during the CAF Champions League 2024/25 match between Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad at Cairo International Stadium in Cairo , Egypt on 22 December 2024 ©Djaffar Ladjal/BackpagePix

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Friday Jan 03, 2025. 13:00

Al Ahly, Al Hilal Omdurman and Esperance de Tunis will be looking to book their spots in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals with two matches to spare.

On Friday, defending champions Al Ahly will be away to CR Belouizdad in a Group C encounter at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers in what will be the first match in the group stage matchday four.

Last season’s runners-up Esperance, on the other hand, will travel to the 30 June Stadium in Cairo where they square off with Pyramids FC in a Group D encounter on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Al Hilal Omdurman will play host to MC Alger in a Group A match at their temporary home ground, Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium in Nouakchott on Sunday.

While Mamelodi Sundowns will edge closer to securing a spot in the quarter-finals if they claim a win over Raja Casablanca in a Group B clash at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Saturday.

Sundowns’ South African rivals, Orlando Pirates will also be keen to boost their quarter-final ambitions by defeating Stade d’Abidjan in Saturday’s Group C clash at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.

CAF Champions League matchday 4 fixtures

Kick-off times in CAT

Friday, 3 January

21:00 – CR Belouizdad v Al Ahly

Saturday, 4 January

15:00- Young Africans v TP Mazembe

18:00 – Orlando Pirates v Stade d’Abidjan

21:00 – AS FAR Rabat v Maniema Union

21:00 – Raja Casablanca v Mamelodi Sundowns

Sunday, 5 January

18:00 – Sagrada Esperança v Djoliba AC

18:00 – Pyramids FC v Esperance de Tunis

21:00 – Al Hilal Omdurman v MC Alger