Defending champions Al Ahly launched their quest for a third consecutive  CAF Champions League title with a resounding 4-2 victory over Côte d’Ivoire’s Stade d’Abidjan in Cairo on Tuesday.

The record title holders from Egypt dominated the first half, racing to a 3-1 lead, with Mahmoud Kahraba netting twice and Mohamed Magdi Kafsha adding another. 

Stade d’Abidjan managed a response through Kassoum Koné but was ultimately overrun by Al Ahly’s firepower.

A second-half strike by Kahraba secured the points despite a late goal from Roger Assalé for the visitors.

Pyramids FC Shine in Group D

Elsewhere, Egypt’s Pyramids FC lit up the 30 June Air Defence Stadium in Cairo with a scintillating 5-1 dismantling of Angola’s Sagrada Esperança. 

Ibrahim Adel was the star, contributing two goals, including a stunning opener in the 17th minute.

Fiston Mayele, Mohamed Hamdy, and Ahmed Atef also found the net, while Sagrada’s consolation came late via Cachí.

The dominant display underscores Pyramids’ ambitions to make a deep run in only their second group-stage campaign.

Goalless Stalemate in Pretoria

In Group B, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa were held to a 0-0 draw by DR Congo debutants Maniema Union at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Despite dominating possession, the home side failed to convert several chances, including Lucas Ribeiro Costa’s strike against the crossbar.

Maniema’s resilient defence earned them a valuable point in their first group-stage appearance.

The action continues with Group B’s marquee Moroccan derby between Raja Casablanca and FAR Rabat, while CR Belouizdad host Orlando Pirates in Group C.

Esperance face Djoliba in the final Group D fixture later tonight.

-CAF

The CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup remain the pinnacle of club football on the African continent and a chance for players and coaches to write their names into the history books by lifting the coveted trophies.

The Group Stage of the CAF Champions League starts for the 16 remaining teams with match day 1 on 26 November and includes some fascinating ties, not least a Moroccan Derby between Raja Casablanca and FAR Rabat in Group B.

Many of the most memorable moments in African football have come from the two elite competitions and another great chapter in the story of the game on the continent is set to be written this season.

Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo make their debut at this stage of the competition and with a tough away trip to Pretoria to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the other match in the pool.

Defending champions, Egyptian giants Al Ahly open their Group C campaign with a home clash against Stade d’Abidjan of Cote d’Ivoire, while Soweto side Orlando Pirates, playing in the pool stages for the first time since the 2018/19 season, are in Algeria at CR Belouizdad.

It will be a two-month sprint for the top two places in each of the four groups to earn a berth in the quarter-finals, with the pool stage to conclude with match day 6 on 17-19 January, 2025.

Record 12-time winners Al Ahly have lifted the CAF Champions League trophy in four of the previous five years and will be among the favourites again with their experience through the knockout rounds.

The group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup starts on 27 November and again there are some top ties to look forward to.

Holders Zamalek welcome debutants Black Bulls from Mozambique in a tough introduction for the latter, while there is also a North African showdown between CS Sfaxien from Tunisia and Algeria’s CS Constantine.

Morocco’s RS Berkane, the runners-up in 2023/24, start their pool stage campaign against another club making their debut at this stage, Angola’s CD da Lunda Sul

The quarter-finals in this season’s interclub competitions are scheduled for 28-30 March (first leg) and 4-6 April (second leg), while the semi-finals will be played 18-20 April (first leg) and 25-27 April (second leg).

View the full  CAF Champions League Group Stage fixture list here.

View the full  CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage fixture list here.

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE MATCH DAYS

• Match day 1: 26 November, 2024
• Match day 2: 6-8 December, 2024
• Match day 3: 13-15 December, 2024
• Match day 4: 3-5 January, 2025
• Match day 5: 10-12 January, 2025
• Match day 6: 17-19 January, 2025

CAF CONFEDERATION CUP GROUP STAGE MATCH DAYS

• Match day 1: 27 November, 2024
• Match day 2: 8 December, 2024
• Match day 3: 15 December, 2024
• Match day 4: 5 January, 2025
• Match day 5: 12 January, 2025
• Match day 6: 19 January, 2025

Nigeria’s sole survivor into the second round of the CAF Champions League, Enugu Rangers have crashed out of the competition. They lost 3-1 to Angola’s Sagrada Esperança  this Sunday in Luanda.

 The aggregate scoreline is 3-2 as Rangers last weekend won their home game 1-0. Sagrada Esperança opened the game with offensive and got their first goal barely six minutes into the game when Alexandre Fernando found the back of the net.

 The hosts doubled their lead in the 33^rd minute through Mussa. But four minutes later, Enugu Rangers reduced the tally to 2-1 to carry an away goal advantage into half time.

Jamie Pimpao got the much needed goal for Angola in the 67^th minute to seal the hopes of Rangers.

Sagrada Esperança will now go into next month’s draw for the draw of the group stage.