Highly tactical opening to TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Quarter-Finals
Image credit: CAFonline
- Al Ahly, the only victor in the first-leg quarter-finals
- Highly tactical duels in all four encounters
- Close results set up exciting return leg fixtures
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Quarter-Final action got off to a highly tactical start this past weekend. The exciting race towards the semi-finals kicked off on Friday, March 29, CAFonline reports.
On Friday, defending champions Al Ahly showed their pedigree away from home when facing a spirited Simba AC side at the Benjamin Mkwapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Despite being pinned in their half for most of the encounter, the defending champions managed a crucial 1-0 win over the Tanzanians thanks to an early Ahmed Koka goal.
The same venue hosted former champions and reigning African Football League kings Mamelodi Sundowns the following day, as they were welcomed by last season’s TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup finalists, Young Africans.
A highly tactical battle between coach Rulani Mokwena and former Sundowns assistant coach concluded with a goalless stalemate ahead of the return leg in Pretoria this weekend.
In Lubumbashi, TP Mazembe was frustrated by a resilient Petro de Luanda side who denied them a result in front of their fans.
Despite the Angolans’ good defending, Mazembe will hope to be more clinical this weekend when facing the Angolan champions in Luanda.
Another goalless draw concluded the first-leg Quarter-Final fixtures in Tunis. Four-time champions Esperance Sportive de Tunis were also held to a goalless stalemate by a stubborn Asec Mimosas side determined to end their continental drought this season.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League QF First Leg Results:
Simba AC 0 – 1 Al Ahly SC
TP Mazembe 0 – 0 Atletico Petroleos
Young Africans 0 – 0 Mamelodi Sundowns
Esperance de Tunis 0 – 0 Asec Mimosas
Quarter-Finals Return Leg Fixtures:
Friday, April 05
18h00 GMT | Mamelodi Sundowns v Young Africans
20h00 GMT | Al Ahly SC v Simba SC
Saturday, 06 April
16h00 GMT | Atletico Petroleos v TP Mazembe
20h00 GMT | Asec Mimosas v Esperance
