The excitement of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals has begun.
Sundowns Breaks Esperance’s Defense
Sundowns and Esperance, both leading their respective leagues, faced off in a highly anticipated match. The South African side, Sundowns, dominated the game from start to finish with their attacking play.
Despite this, the Tunisian team, Esperance, responded with solid defensive organization. Despite having only 20% possession, they managed to prevent Sundowns from creating clear goal-scoring opportunities.
However, this resistance was finally broken in the 54th minute. Lucas Ribiero delivered a brilliant long ball, which Jayden Adams headed down to set up Peter Shalulile for a one-on-one chance.
Shalulile capitalized on the opportunity and scored the only goal of the match. As a result, Sundowns secured a 1-0 victory at home.
Al Ahly and Orlando Pirates Secure Crucial Wins
In another quarter-final match, Egyptian giants Al Ahly faced Sudan’s rising team, Al-Hilal.
Al Ahly controlled the game and took the lead early on in the 11th minute when right-back Mohamed Hany scored with a powerful shot from outside the box. No more goals were scored in the match, and Al Ahly secured a narrow 1-0 win.
Meanwhile, MC Alger and Orlando Pirates battled in a game where the Algerian side dominated possession and attacking play. However, the South African team’s goalkeeper, Chaine Sipho, delivered an outstanding performance, keeping his team in the game.
Orlando Pirates eventually capitalized on a counterattack in the 65th minute, when Relebohile Mofokeng provided a stylish assist for Mohau Nkota, who finished clinically to make it 1-0. The match ended with this scoreline, giving Orlando Pirates an impressive away victory.
Pyramids FC Dominates AS FAR
Finally, Pyramids FC, the standout team in the Egyptian league this season, cruised past Moroccan side AS FAR. The match started explosively, with Fiston Mayele scoring from a set-piece in just the second minute.
Ten minutes later, Mayele doubled the lead by finishing another cross, this time from the opposite flank. By the 38th minute, Ibrahim Adel extended the lead to 3-0 with a composed finish inside the box.
AS FAR pulled one back before halftime through Abdelfettah Hadraf. They were given further hope when Pyramids FC was awarded a penalty late in the first half, only for it to be overturned after a VAR review.
However, their hopes were dashed in the 67th minute when Ibrahim Adel, the star of the match, scored a stunning goal to make it 4-1. The match ended with this scoreline, giving Pyramids FC a huge advantage heading into the second leg.
The return legs will take place in a week, with the winners advancing to the semi-finals.