CAF Champions League round-up saw three elite clubs in continental football – Etoile Sahel, Esperance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns – advance into the quarterfinals of the Champions League, while Al-Hilal Al-Ubayyid have done the same in the Confederation Cup.
In Group A of the Champions League, Tunisian giants Etoile Sahel booked their spot in the knockout stages after claiming a 1-1 draw away to Mozambique’s Ferroviario Beira. A late penalty from Etoile’s Slim Ben Belgacem was the key event of the match.
Liberian International Anthony Laffor, scored the only goal of the day for South African club Mamelodi Sundowns as they defeated Saint George of Ethiopia 1-0 in their Group C contest.
Espérance maintained their spot at the top of their CAF Champions League group following an entertaining 2-2 draw against DR Congo’s AS Vita at the Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs on Saturday night to advance along with Sundowns from Group C.
Esperance lead Group C on nine points, with Mamelodi Sundowns a further point back.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Zambian side Zanaco missed out on qualification after being held 0-0 at home in Group D by record eight-times winners Al Ahly of Egypt.
Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca hauled themselves back into contention in the group with a 2-0 win away to Cameroon’s Cotonsport Garoua in the later game.
Wydad are now two points adrift of group leaders Zanaco with Ahly a further point back.
Group B remains tight after the top two, Al Ahli Tripoli and USM Alger, drew 1-1 on Friday night.
They are both on eight points, three points ahead of Zamalek who travel to CAPS United on Sunday.
Only the top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the quarter-finals of this year’s African Champions League.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Group D’s leading pair of Horoya and SuperSport United played to a goalless draw in Conakry, opening the door for title holders TP Mazembe to make up ground when they play CF Mounana on Sunday.
In Group C, Sudan’s Al-Hilal Al-Ubayyid have sealed their spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Recreativo Libolo 2-0 in the late game. The Angolans are not out of the running, though, as they will be in a three-way fight with Zesco United and Smouha to join Ubayyid in the last eight.
CAF club results, Saturday 1 July
CAF Champions League
Group A – Ferroviario Beira 1-1 Etoile Sahel
Group C – Saint George 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Group C – AS Vita 2-2 Esperance Tunis
Group D – Zanaco 0-0 Al Ahly
Group D – Coton Sport 0-2 Wydad Casablanca
CAF Confederation Cup
Group D – Horoya 0-0 SuperSport United
Group C – Al-Hilal Al-Ubayyid 2-0 Recreativo Libolo
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