CAF Champions League Group Stage Climaxes as Teams Battle for Final Quarter-Final Spots
2 min read
By Atobatele Ayomide
The curtain will fall on the group stage of the 2024/25 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League this weekend, with teams vying for the last two quarter-final berths. Five clubs—Al Hilal SC (Sudan), Al Ahly (Egypt), AS FAR (Morocco), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), and Pyramids FC (Egypt)—have already secured qualification, leaving Group A and Group B as the focal points for the final round of fixtures.
In Group A, MC Alger (8 points) faces Young Africans (7 points) in a high-stakes encounter in Dar es Salaam. Yanga will be desperate to overturn their 2-0 loss to the Algerians from December, knowing victory would propel them to the quarter-finals.
Group B sees Raja Casablanca visiting the eliminated Maniema Union, hoping for a win while relying on AS FAR to secure a favorable result in Pretoria against Mamelodi Sundowns. AS FAR leads the group with 10 points, one ahead of Sundowns, who need only a draw to advance.
Meanwhile, pride is on the line in Groups C and D. Defending champions Al Ahly, fresh from qualification, host Orlando Pirates in Cairo, aiming to assert dominance after a goalless draw in Soweto. Elsewhere, Al Hilal, the first team to qualify, will look to rebound from last weekend’s defeat with an away clash against TP Mazembe.
This weekend’s fixtures promise an exciting finale to the group stage, with African football’s elite showcasing their resilience and ambition.
Match Day 6 Highlights:
Saturday, January 18:
Group A: Young Africans vs. MC Alger (13:00 GMT)
Group C: Al Ahly vs. Orlando Pirates (16:00 GMT)
Group D: Esperance vs. Sagrada Esperança (19:00 GMT)
Sunday, January 19:
Group B: Sundowns vs. AS FAR (16:00 GMT)
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
