The penultimate round of the CAF Champions League group stage kicks off on Friday, with teams across all groups battling to secure quarter-final spots. 

Al Hilal of Sudan is the only team assured of progression, leaving the other clubs fighting for the remaining slots.

Group A
Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman, already through to the quarterfinals, host Young Africans on Sunday in a clash that could shape the final standings.

Al Hilal leads the group with 10 points and will aim to solidify their dominance. Young Africans, buoyed by their comeback win over TP Mazembe on Matchday 4, need a positive result to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Meanwhile, MC Alger will look to strengthen their position when they host Mazembe on Friday. A win for the Algerians would move them closer to securing the second quarter-final slot.

Group B
Morocco’s FAR Rabat will seek to secure their place in the next round when they host Raja Casablanca in a high-stakes Moroccan derby on Saturday.

FAR Rabat sits atop the group with eight points and needs just a draw to advance. Raja, coming off a narrow victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, will aim to avenge their first-round loss to their domestic rivals. Sundowns travel to Congo to face Maniema Union, with both sides desperate for points to remain in contention.

Group C
Orlando Pirates lead Group C but face a tough test at home against CR Belouizdad on Sunday.

The Pirates, on eight points, can secure qualification with a win. Belouizdad, sitting two points behind, will look to build on their dramatic victory over Al Ahly.

The Egyptian title holders, now third in the group, must defeat bottom-placed Stade d’Abidjan on Saturday to avoid a shock early exit.

Group D
Group D remains finely poised, with Pyramids and Esperance tied on seven points. Pyramids travel to Angola to face Sagrada Esperança on Saturday, needing a draw to book their spot in the next round. Sagrada, on five points, will look to capitalize on home advantage. Meanwhile, Esperance will visit Djoliba on Sunday, seeking to rebound from their loss to Pyramids and secure their qualification.

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Matchday 5 Fixtures

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 Union 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

-CAF

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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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