COMPETITION. Africa’s top eight teams face off this weekend in the quarter-finals of the African Champions League with promising displays.
By Abdoulaye A. Sall
© ADAM HANEEN / Anadolu Agency via AFP
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Lhe quarter-finals (first leg) of the Champions League promise epic matches this weekend. This Friday, April 21, the Algerians of JS Kabylie open the ball against Espérance de Tunis. The next day, Saturday April 22, it was Wydad Casablanca – Simba SC at the Tanzania National Main Stadium. This match promises to be close between the two teams as the Tanzanians of Simba Sports are aiming for the feat. The other two posters are just as promising, with an Al Ahly – Raja Casablanca clash and a final meeting which will see the Algerians of Belouizdad and the South Africans of Mamelodi Sundowns face each other.
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The shock Wydad Casablanca – Simba SC
Reigning African champion, the former team of Walid Regragui, Wydad Casablanca, which has known no less than four coaches since the start of the season, has somehow managed to stay in contention on all counts. Second in the Moroccan football championship (the Batola pro-1) just one point behind FAR Rabat (which is nevertheless having a great season and is in the running to win the Confederations Cup), the Casablancais, trained by the Spaniard Juan Carlos Garrido, reap the good results, although not always in a convincing way. In any case, they can count on their popular player, Bouly Sambou Junior, best in the Senegalese championship last season, author of 17 goals in 28 games this season.
Opposite, the Tanzanians of Simba SC gathered only 9 points to reach the quarter-finals in group C. Above all, the team is on its third coach of the season, the Brazilian Robertinho, who arrived in mid- season. However, his ideas are beginning to produce some results after a difficult start (3-0 defeat at home against Raja in particular). Victorious 7-0 against Horoya in the decisive match for qualification, Simba SC was able to regain confidence following this river score. To the point of winning the famous Dar Es Salam derby last weekend against Yanga SC, defending champion undefeated last season, and qualified for the quarter-finals of the CAF Cup. Although not among the favorites, the Tanzanians will be keen to have a successful home game for the return match, which promises to be difficult in an atmosphere that is still very special in the Stade Mohammed-V.
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Al Ahly – Raja Casablanca, a final before the hour
A poster with the taste of revenge for the Egyptian giant Al Ahly after the final of last season lost. Qualified in a decisive match against the Sudanese Al Hilal in a group that was however poorly embarked, the current leader of the Egyptian championship was able to count on his public to win. An asset that will be significant in view of a double confrontation that promises to be electric.
For his part, Raja Casablanca is trying to heal the wounds of the instability that has reigned within the club since the continental title of 2020 and the CAF Cup won. Despite finishing fifth in the domestic league, the club have put on an attractive face since the World Cup. A trend that was confirmed by a group stage easily dominated by the men of former Tunisian coach Mondher Kebaier, who arrived as a replacement for his legendary compatriot Faouzi Benzarti. However, faced with the frantic pace of the calendar, Raja do not seem able to win all their confrontations and have, for example, only won one of their last five league games, although they are still in contention in the FIFA Cup. Throne and therefore in the African Cup. The Rajaoui club will certainly play a very large part of its season on this double confrontation against Al Ahly and given the scenario of last season (victory of Al Ahly 3-2 on the two legs), there is no doubt that the Moroccan giant is keen to catch up.
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Sundowns and Esperance favorites
Alone in the world in their championship, with a thirteenth title validated seven days before the end of the PSL, the Mamelodi Sundowns are undoubtedly the African team of the moment. They may have never looked so strong since 2016, when Pitso Mosimane’s side won the Champions League. Guided by a young 36-year-old coach, Rhulani Mokwena, the South Africans combine tactical organization and polished and hard-hitting play, which has earned them outstanding performances, like this resounding 5-1 victory against Al Ahly in the phases of groups and a domination over the two historical clubs of the national championship which are Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Facing CR Belouizdad, the best Algerian team for several years, the task does not look easy, however.
Constantly progressing and having been able to practically compete against Espérance de Tunis, the CRB accumulates experience on the African scene and remains a difficult team to maneuver, the first leg in Algiers will be an opportunity to demonstrate it. Finally, the confrontation which seems the most unbalanced on paper opposes Espérance de Tunis of Nabil Maaloul, whose level has been quite difficult to situate since last year, and JS Kabylie. Surprisingly penultimate in the Algerian championship, despite qualifying at the expense of Petro Luanda, yet eagerly awaited this year, JSK is the big unknown in these quarter-finals. Following its elimination against a team from ES Sétif yet in great difficulty in the league last season, the Tunisians know what to expect to avoid a new African disillusionment. We must not sin in the last gesture as was the case for the team then trained by Radhi Jaidi.
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The shift schedule:
Friday April 21
7 p.m.: JS Kabylie (Algeria) – ES Tunis (Tunisia)
Saturday April 22
1 p.m.: Simba SC (Tanzania) – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
7 p.m.: Al Ahly SC (Egypt) – Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
CR Belouizdad (Algeria)- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
