CAF Champions League Matchday 5 Kicks Off
The fifth week of the CAF Champions League group stage has begun, with some teams securing their spots in the next round. Here’s a summary of the matches:
Group A
Only one match took place in Group A, where Algerian side MC Alger faced Congolese team TP Mazembe. In a controlled game, the sole goal came in the 36th minute when Akram Bouras converted a penalty, giving MC Alger a 1-0 victory. With this result, TP Mazembe was eliminated from the tournament, while MC Alger gained a significant advantage.
Group B
Two matches were played in Group B.
- Maniema Union (DR Congo) vs. Sundowns (South Africa):
The first match saw Jephte Kitambala showcase his pace, carrying the ball from his own half and scoring in the 38th minute to give Maniema Union the lead. The score remained unchanged for most of the game until Sundowns equalized in the 83rd minute with a Peter Shalulile goal from a corner. In the 90+5th minute, under intense Sundowns pressure, defender Exacia Moanda scored an own goal, handing Sundowns a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory. - AS FAR (Morocco) vs. Raja CA (Morocco):
The second match featured an all-Moroccan clash. Anas Zniti scored an own goal for Raja CA, while Naoufel Zerhoni equalized from the penalty spot for AS FAR. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. With this result, AS FAR secured their place in the next round, while Maniema Union was eliminated from the competition.
Group C
In Group C, Egyptian giants Al Ahly traveled to Côte d’Ivoire to face Stade d’Abidjan.
- The home team took the lead in the 26th minute with a long-range strike from Saint-Jean Kore. However, Al Ahly’s Emam Ashour stepped up in the second half, scoring three goals in the 53rd, 73rd, and 90+5th minutes to complete a stunning hat-trick. With this 3-1 win, Stade d’Abidjan was eliminated from the tournament.
Group D
The Group D encounter saw Angolan side Sagrada Esperança take on Egyptian team Pyramids.
- The game remained goalless until the 90+4th minute when Marwan Hamdy scored the decisive goal, securing a 1-0 win for Pyramids. With this victory, Pyramids reached 10 points and guaranteed their progression to the next round.