AS FAR of Rabat booked their place in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in the group stage era after a 1-1 draw against Moroccan rival Raja Casablanca in Rabat on Saturday night.

The Royal Army took the lead in the 40th minute when Raja goalkeeper Anas Zniti accidentally turned a corner kick into his own net. 

Raja levelled the score in the 77th minute through Noufel Zerhouni, who converted a penalty after Maamouri was brought down in the box.

Moments later, Raja thought they had taken the lead when Issa Ben Omar scored, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the FAR goalkeeper.

FAR Rabat now leads Group B with nine points, securing their quarter-final spot, while Raja remains on five points, facing an uphill battle to qualify.

 Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Egypt’s Al Ahly who played without their foreign players were simply sensational as they beat their hosts, Stade d’Abidjan 3-1 in a CAF Champions League match on Saturday.

Their foreign players missed the encounter for various reasons. According to reports from Egyptian media before the match, the Moroccan trio of defender Achraf Dari, fullback Yahya Attiat Allah, and winger Reda Slim as well as South Africa’s Percy Tau were all excluded from the trip to Abidjan.

Dari reportedly was suffering from a hamstring injury, while the other two Moroccans were to undergo surgeries on their face and knee, respectively.

Percy Tau was also excluded from the list, as he prepared to complete his move to the Qatari league.

Also, the Tunisian fullback, Ali Maaloul was excluded, as was yet to re-register for Ahly’s local and continental competitions.

But the absence of those players did not matter on Saturday as a super-charged Ahly got a massive away win.

Imam Ashour’s sensational hat-trick inspired Al Ahly to a 3-1 comeback win, moving the reigning champions closer to the quarter-finals.

The hosts took the lead in the 26th minute through Saint-Jean Corre, but Ashour equalized early in the second half with a clinical finish.

The Egyptian midfielder doubled his tally in the 73rd minute with a towering header off a Khaled Abdel Fattah cross.

Ashour sealed his hat-trick deep into injury time, firing a powerful shot after a swift counterattack. The win propels Al Ahly to 10 points, temporarily topping Group C, while Stade d’Abidjan remains at the bottom with just one point.

 Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Mamelodi Sundowns secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Maniema Union in the fifth round of matches of the CAF Champions League group stage on Saturday. 

The match, played at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, kept the South African side firmly in contention for a quarter-final spot.

Maniema Union took the lead in the 38th minute when Congolese forward Jafty Kitambala finished a precise counter-attack to give the home team a deserved advantage.

The second half saw Sundowns dominate possession, with relentless attacking pressure.

Their persistence paid off in the 83rd minute when Namibian striker Peter Shalulile latched onto a cross and struck a composed equaliser to restore parity.

As the match appeared destined for a draw, a heart-breaking moment for Maniema Union occurred in the dying minutes of stoppage time. 

Defender Exosya Mwanda inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a dangerous Sundowns cross, handing the visitors a decisive victory.

The result sees Sundowns climb to 8 points, holding second place in Group B, while Maniema Union remain on 3 points and are eliminated from quarter-final contention.

 Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H