The  CAF Champions League Matchday 4 over the weekend delivered thrilling encounters across Africa, with teams battling to secure a place in the knockout stages.

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Group A

Young Africans kept their quarter-final hopes alive with a resounding 3-1 comeback victory over TP Mazembe in Dar es Salaam.

Despite Mazembe’s early lead via Alioune Faty’s penalty, Clement Mzize’s brace and Aziz Ki’s second-half strike secured a vital win for the Tanzanian champions.

Al-Hilal Omdurman maintained its lead at the top with a 1-1 draw against MC Alger. Al-Hilal now has 10 points, five ahead of second-placed MC Alger.

Group B

FAR Rabat solidified their hold on Group B with a 2-0 win over Maniema Union. Goals from Khalid Aït Ouarkhane and El Amine Zouhzouh sealed the victory.

In Casablanca, Raja edged Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in a fiery clash marked by three red cards. Benaissa Benamar’s goal kept Raja’s hopes alive.

FAR Rabat leads with eight points, followed by Sundowns (5), Raja (4), and Maniema (3).

Group C

Orlando Pirates seized the top spot in Group C with a dominant 3-0 win against Stade d’Abidjan, courtesy of goals from Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi, and Deon Hotto.

CR Belouizdad ended Al Ahly’s unbeaten streak with a late 1-0 victory in Algiers, moving into second place with six points, trailing the Pirates by two.

Group D

Pyramids secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Esperance in Cairo, tying the Tunisians at the top of the group standings.

Meanwhile, Sagrada Esperança edged Djoliba 1-0, keeping their knockout hopes alive. Both Pyramids and Esperance have seven points, with Sagrada close behind on five.

Matchday 4 Results

Group A

• Al-Hilal Omdurman 1-1 MC Alger
• Young Africans 3-1 TP Mazembe

Group B

• FAR Rabat 2-0 Maniema Union
• Raja Casablanca 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns

Group C

• Orlando Pirates 3-0 Stade d’Abidjan
• CR Belouizdad 1-0 Al Ahly

Group D

• Pyramids 2-1 Esperance
• Sagrada Esperança 1-0 Djoliba

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Group Standings

(Updated as of Matchday 4 completion)

Group A

1. Al-Hilal Omdurman – 10 pts
2. MC Alger – 5 pts
3. Young Africans – 4 pts
4. TP Mazembe – 2 pts

Group B

1. FAR Rabat – 8 pts
2. Mamelodi Sundowns – 5 pts
3. Raja Casablanca – 4 pts
4. Maniema Union – 3 pts

Group C

1. Orlando Pirates – 8 pts
2. CR Belouizdad – 6 pts
3. Al Ahly – 7 pts
4. Stade d’Abidjan – 1 pt

Group D

1. Pyramids – 7 pts
2. Esperance – 7 pts
3. Sagrada Esperança – 5 pts
4. Djoliba – 2 pts

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Next Fixtures: Matchday 5

Group A

• MC Alger v TP Mazembe (10 Jan, 19:00 GMT)
• Al-Hilal Omdurman v Young Africans (12 Jan, 19:00 GMT)

Group B

• Maniema v Mamelodi Sundowns (11 Jan, 13:00 GMT)
• FAR Rabat v Raja Casablanca (11 Jan, 19:00 GMT)

Group C

• Stade d’Abidjan v Al Ahly (11 Jan, 16:00 GMT)
• Orlando Pirates v CR Belouizdad (12 Jan, 13:00 GMT)

Group D

• Sagrada Esperança v Pyramids (11 Jan, 16:00 GMT)
• Djoliba v Esperance (12 Jan, 16:00 GMT)

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Enyimba has beaten Mozambique’s Associação Black Bulls 4-1 to get their first victory as the CAF Champions League entered match day 4.

The former Champions League winners had gone three matches in Group D without a win and got glued at the bottom of the four-team group.

The 4-1 win still put them at the bottom of the group, but there is a figment of hope if they can pick points in their two remaining matches against Egyptian clubs, Zamalek and Al Masry, especially if they beat the latter in their next home match. Joseph Atule who scored two goals in the match put Enyimba ahead in the sixth minute.

But the lead was short-lived as a defensive blunder enabled the Mozambicans to level up in the 12th minute through Ejaita Ifoni.

Enyimba went ahead again in the closing minutes of the first half when Ifeanyi Ihemekwele volleyed in from close range.

Former Super Eagles player, Brown Ideye who came in in the 61st minute instantly registered his presence with a 67th-minute goal to take the tally to 3-1. On the dot of 90 minutes, Joseph Atule scored his second goal of the day and thus wiped off the three-goal deficit carried over from the first match.

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Orlando Pirates delivered a commanding performance to defeat Stade d’Abidjan 3-0 in their Group C clash of the CAF Champions League at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. 

The result elevated the South African side to the top of the group standings with two matches remaining.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Relebohile Mofokeng slotted a composed finish into the centre of the net after being set up by Mohau Nkota.

Pirates controlled the tempo throughout the first half, heading into the break with a 1-0 advantage.

The Buccaneers doubled their lead early in the second half through Patrick Maswanganyi, who found the bottom left corner after receiving another precise assist from Nkota.

With Stade d’Abidjan struggling to create clear opportunities, the Pirates maintained their momentum.

Deon Hotto sealed the victory in the 85th minute, scoring from close range to cap off a fast break.

The visitors rarely threatened Orlando Pirates’ defence, as the South African outfit secured their second win of the group stage.

The victory takes Orlando Pirates to eight points, one ahead of Al Ahly, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Belouizdad on Friday.

Belouizdad sits in third place with six points, while Stade d’Abidjan remains bottom with a single point.

With two matches left in the group stage, Pirates are well-positioned for quarter-final qualification. They will next face Al Ahly in Cairo in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.

Earlier on Saturday, Young Africans (Yanga) delivered a spirited comeback to defeat TP Mazembe 3-1 at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium keeping their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League hopes alive. 

The victory sees the Tanzanian side move to third place in Group A with four points, while Mazembe sit bottom with just two points.

The visitors struck first in the 16th minute when Alioune Faty converted a penalty, awarded after Issaka Boka’s foul in the box.

TP Mazembe’s early dominance threatened to derail the home side, but Young Africans showed resilience to claw their way back.

Clement Mzize equalized in the 33rd minute with a sensational long-range effort, restoring belief among the home supporters. The

Tanzanian champions carried that momentum into the second half, taking control of the game.

Aziz Ki completed the turnaround in the 56th minute, finishing calmly after a swift counter-attack.

Moments later, Mzize struck again in the 60th minute, slotting home a well-timed pass from Prince Dube to seal the victory.

Despite Mazembe’s late efforts, including a thunderous free-kick from Jean Diouf that rattled the crossbar, they failed to find a way back.

Young Africans now trail group leaders Al-Hilal Omdurman by five points with two matches remaining, as they stay in the race for quarter-final qualification.

Mazembe face a battle to keep their quarter-final hopes alive as they have an uphill task of advancing to the knockout stages of the competition.

-CAF

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