Five former champions have advanced to the quarterfinals, among them two clubs from Tanzania, Simba and Young Africans.
Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis worked hard to secure a quarter-final berth in the last eight on Saturday night, rounding out the list of Africa’s top eight teams competing for the Trophy.
The Tunisians won 1-0 at home against Al Hilal SC in a highly competitive match.
Three of the eight teams that have officially booked their places have yet to taste continental success, with Al Ahly (11), TP Mazembe (5), Esperance (4), Asec Mimosas (1), and Mamelodi Sundowns (1) all having previously won Africa’s most coveted club football trophy.
Defending champions and Egyptian giants Al Ahly remain on course for their title defence after a 1-0 home victory over Young Africans on Friday to finish top of Group D with 12 points.
The Tanzanians clinched second place in the group despite losing the game in Cairo even though Belouizdad defeated Medeama 3-0 in the group’s other match.
Sundowns defeated TP Mazembe to win Group A
Sundowns secured Group A’s top spot with 13 points after defeating TP Mazembe 1-0 in Pretoria on Saturday but the visiting side also advanced after finishing second with ten points.
Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas topped Group B with 11 points despite losing away to former champions Wydad Casablanca, who crashed out following Simba’s heavy 6-0 win over Jwaneng Galaxy in the group’s other game on Saturday.
Simba were equal on nine points with Wydad but advanced thanks to their better record.
Angola’s Petro de Luanda and Tunisia’s Esperance qualified for the quarter-finals from Group C following their victories on Saturday.
Petro de Luanda finished top of the group with 12 points after their 2-0 win over Etoile du Sahel while Esperance’s 1-0 victory over Al Hilal helped them to secure second place with 11 points.
CAF will announce the date for the draw of the quarter-finals in the coming days.
Below is the list of quarter-final teams
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
- ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Simba (Tanzania)
- Petro de Luanda (Angola)
- Esperance (Tunisia)
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Young Africans (Tanzania)
