CAF Champions League
Sundowns coach Cardoso reacts to facing former side ES Tunis
Mamelodi Sundowns’ second CAF Champions League title hopes were agonisingly dashed in the semi-finals last season, with the man who orchestrated the heartache now sitting at the helm of the club that is aiming to emulate the 2016 success under then coach, Pitso Mosimane.
The South Africans have another chance at going all the way this season after the quarter-final draw of the competition saw them paired with Espérance Sportive de Tunis – former club of Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardoso who guided the Tunisians to a silver medal last season.
The north versus south duel will see the South Africans playing host to the first leg on 2 April, before travelling up north a few days later for the return leg in Tunis on 8 April.
Reacting to facing his former side in the quarter-finals, the Portuguese tactician said he was aware of the magnitude of the opponent and the weight of the fixture, but emphasised the importance of focusing on his sides’ strengths.
“The team changed a little bit now in January. After I left Espérance, I didn’t watch anything regarding how they play. Obviously, I follow the results but not the games. I know they are doing well.
“They are a team with experience and has been reaching the last stages of the Champions League and that has won it several times and always has the will to do well but I think we should worry about ourselves and do well in the two games” cautioned the coach.
“Obviously there are emotions that come to me in the moment. We performed very well while we were there but for the moment, my emotions are with Sundowns and to do well here.
“I know it will be tight no doubt. Last year was very tight but I believe it will be beautiful to see. Both teams play good football, both teams are positive in how they approach the game.
“The ambience in Tunis for the Champions League is beautiful and I hope that it will energise us to do well but also here it is beautiful, so I hope our fans will fill our stadiums and give us the extra energy to get the result” concluded Cardoso.
The CAF Champions League draw produced other intriguing and unpredictable ties, which will see record champions, Al Ahly SC taking on Al Hilal, Pyramids FC facing AS FAR as well as MC Alger against Orlando Pirates.
Following the quarter-final draw, the semi-final line-up was also determined.
The winner of the clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance will face either Al Ahly or Al Hilal, while the victor between MC Alger and Orlando Pirates will meet the winner of the Pyramids versus AS FAR tie.
-CAF
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The draw for the quarter-finals of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League will take place in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, where the eight remaining sides will learn their path to the final.
The four group winners will be drawn against the four runners-up, though they cannot meet the team who advanced to the knockout stage from their pool. The draw for the semi-finals will be conducted at the same time.
Here is a look at the eight remaining teams in the competition.
GROUP WINNERS
AL HILAL
Country: Sudan
Coach: Florent Ibengé (DR Congo)
Best finish: Runners-up 1987, 1992
Al Hilal were forced to play their ‘home’ games in Mauritania due to the conflict in their own country, but topped their pool in fine style with 10 points from a possible 18. Their success has been built around a tight defence, bar a blow-out 4-0 loss to TP Mazembe in their final pool game. They have the experienced Congolese coach Florent Ibengé in charge and have advanced from the group stage for the first time since they reached the semi-finals in 2015.
AS FAR
Country: Morocco
Coach: Alexandre Santos (Portugal)
Best finish: Winners 1985
Moroccan side AS FAR went unbeaten through the pool stage with two wins and four draws, topping the group with 10 points. They were one of only two clubs that did not lose a pool stage game. They have recently appointed Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos. The club were champions in 1985 but have not been this far in the competition since a semi-final showing in 1988.
ESPERANCE SPORTIVE DE TUNIS
Country: Tunisia
Coach: Laurențiu Reghecampf (Romania)
Best finish: Winners 1994, 2011, 2018, 2019
Esperance edged Egyptian side Pyramids on head-to-head to top their pool with 13 points from a possible 18. The duo of South African Elias Mokwana and Tunisian Achref Jabri each grabbed three goals in the pool stages and will be dangermen again. Romanian coach Laurențiu Reghecampf has been in charge since November, with the side losing only one of their 19 fixtures in all competitions since his appointment. This past weekend they lifted the Tunisian Super Cup.
ORLANDO PIRATES
Country: South Africa
Coach: Jose Riveiro (Spain)
Best finish: Winners 1995
Orlando Pirates are into the knockout rounds of the CAF Champions League for the first time since they reached the final in 2013. They have been riding a wave of success under Spanish coach Jose Riveiro and their 14 points from a possible 18 in the pool stage was the highest of any team as they went unbeaten. Their 2-1 win at Al Ahly in their final group game will have given them a huge boost in confidence.
GROUP RUNNERS-UP
AL AHLY
Country: Egypt
Coach: Marcel Koller (Switzerland)
Best finish: Winners 1982, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
The record 12-time winners finished runners up to Orlando Pirates but have often stumbled through the pool stages of late, only to turn it on in the knockout rounds and dominate, leading to four titles in the last five years. They have the skill and experience to beat any team, especially over two legs. They are seeking to become the first team ever to lift the trophy three years in a row.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Country: South Africa
Coach: Miguel Cardoso (Portugal)
Best finish: Winners 2016
Mamelodi Sundowns were runners-up to AS FAR in their group and failed to find their usual fluency up front with five goals scored in their six games. But they too have the experience to navigate the knockout rounds having reached this stage in nine of the previous 10 seasons. They were champions in 2016 but have not been past the semi-finals since.
MC ALGER
Country: Algeria
Coach: Khaled Ben Yahia (Tunisia)
Best finish: Winners 1976
MC Alger secured nine points in their pool to finish runners-up to Al Hilal but did so by scoring only four goals. Their campaign has been built on defence, having conceded just two goals, the least of any side in the pool stages. They were champions in 1976 but have not been past the quarter-finals since then. They hired coach Khaled Ben Yahia in December following the exit of Patrice Beaumelle.
PYRAMIDS FC
Country: Egypt
Coach: Krunoslav Jurčić (Croatia)
Best finish: Group Stage 2023-24
Pyramids FC were the joint leading scorers in the group stage with 14 goals as they finished runners-up in their pool to Esperance.
They reached the knockout rounds for the first time in their second year of competing in the CAF Champions League having exited in the group phase in 2023-24. They are led by Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurčić, who has been in his post for a little over a year.
-CAF Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
CAF Champions League
Now a player can feature for two clubs within the same CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup season
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to amend the regulations of its two flagship club competitions, the Champions League and the Confederation Cup, and extend the deadline for player registration until February 28, 2025.
Clubs now can register a player who participated in one of these CAF competitions for another club, during the same season.
“The amendments to this regulation will contribute to making the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup attractive and appealing to football fans, viewers, sponsors and partners in Africa and around the world,” CAF said in its statement.
Had the change of rules been operational before now, Enyimba would have been able to sign on some players of Enugu Rangers and Remo Stars to prosecute their failed attempt to cross the Confederation Cup group stage hurdle.
These changes are also intended to improve the quality of African football clubs participating in the FIFA Club World Cup USA-2025.
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Egyptian giants and record winners of the CAF Champions League were stunned on Saturday in Cairo by visiting South Africa’s Orlando Pirates.
The South African won 2-1 to clinch the top spot in the Group C of the Champions League.
Relebohile Mofokeng broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, capitalizing on defensive errors. Al Ahly leveled in the 69th minute through Hussein El Shahat, who brilliantly lobbed Orlando’s keeper.
However, Gilberto’s late strike in the 83rd minute sealed the win for the visitors.
Al Ahly had their chances but were left frustrated following Rami Rabia’s disallowed goal which could have restored parity.
Despite the loss, Al Ahly, led by Marcel Koller, advanced as group runners-up with 10 points, while Orlando topped the group with 14 points.
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Rwanda says DR Congo criticism of Arsenal, Bayern and PSG deals threatens regional peace
Sundowns coach Cardoso reacts to facing former side ES Tunis
Chelle on the ground as Remo Stars set a 10-point gap at the NPFL summit
- Premier League1 week ago
Everton’s Goodison Park set for emotional last Merseyside derby
- Athletics2 days ago
Ogun State Commissioner harps on sports significance at RDHS milestone interhouse sports
- OBITUARY3 days ago
Goodnight, Ayo Ogunlana as NFF pays tribute to AFCON 1990 midfielder
- Governing Bodies6 days ago
Fraud case against ex-Ghana FA boss dropped after five years
- U-20 FOOTBALL7 days ago
Flying Eagles’ coach Zubairu accepts Group of Death challenge
- Nigerian Football4 days ago
Enugu Rangers get their pound of flesh from Remo Stars
- UEFA Champions League1 week ago
Man City fans’ mocking banner fuelled Real’s Vinicius in 3-2 win
- Other Sports5 days ago
Burnley go 1,000 minutes without conceding a league goal