Cairo – Six clubs among the eight qualified for the quarter-finals of the African Champions League have a rich history of success in this tournament. At the end of the group stage, these teams include renowned contenders who have already won this prestigious trophy.
Defending champions Al-Ahly SC are looking to clinch a historic 13th title, while ES Tunis have already celebrated four victories in this esteemed competition.
According to a report from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the list of teams familiar with glory includes MC Alger, AS FAR, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Orlando Pirates, each having lifted the trophy once.
The two Algerian clubs in this elite tournament, MC Alger and CR Belouizdad, experienced divergent fates. MC Algiers advanced after securing a difficult draw last Saturday against Young Africans in Dar Es-Salaam, ensuring their progress on the final day with a score of 0-0. On the other hand, CR Belouizdad was eliminated before this decisive round.
CAF noted, “The conclusion of the group stage was full of exciting twists and turns, with 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns and MC Alger clinching the final spots for the next round. The defending champions Al-Ahly SC will be joined by Al-Hilal SC, ES Tunis, Orlando Pirates, AS FAR, and Pyramids FC in a prestigious line-up for the knockout stage of the competition.”
-According to the continental body, “Al-Hilal SC has established itself as one of the star teams of this season, just like Pyramids FC, who aim to make a mark on the continental scene. This will be the Pyramids’ first foray FC in the final stages of the Champions League, and they hope to continue their impressive run in the tournament.”
With all eight teams ready for the quarter-finals, CAF will soon announce details regarding the draw which will determine the match-ups for the knockout stages, scheduled to begin in March.
MC Algiers will face one of the three group leaders: Orlando Pirates, AS FAR or ES Tunis in the next round.
The first leg of the quarter-finals will take place on March 28-29, followed by the second leg a week later on April 5-6. The semi-finals will take place in April (first round: April 18-19, second round: April 25-26), with the final scheduled for late May and early June (first round: May 24, second round: June 1).
