CAIRO – Securing their qualification for the quarter-finals of the continental competition, Al-Ahly was held to a goalless draw by JS Kabylie at Algeria’s Hussein Ait Ahmed Stadium in the fifth round of the CAF Champions League group stage, a result that kept the Cairo giants at the summit of Group B
Al-Ahly became the first team to book their place in the quarter-finals following the fifth round of CAF inter-club action, which featured five matches across the African continent.
The Red Devils will now face Morocco’s RS Berkane in their final group-stage fixture on February 15, with top spot in Group B on the line. Al-Ahly leads the group with 9 points, holding a narrow advantage over second-placed RS Berkane on 8 points.
Kabylie 0–0 Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly – 12-time winners of the Champions League – was held 0-0 by JS Kabylie in a clash in Tizi Ouzou.
However, the stalemate – combined with ASFAR’s 1-0 win over Young Africans in a concurrent match in Rabat – was enough to see the Red Devils guarantee a top-two finish in Group A.
The hosts came closest to opening the scoring in the first half when Aymen Mahious struck the post from close range following a dangerous cross by Billal Messaoudi, while Al Ahly goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir produced a series of saves to keep his side level.
Al-Ahly responded with spells of pressure through Trézéguet, Aliou Dieng and Mohamed Hany, but Kabylie goalkeeper Gaya Merbah remained alert whenever called upon.
Despite sustained pressure and several set-piece opportunities in the closing stages, Kabylie was unable to find a breakthrough, with Shobeir denying Mostapha Rezkallah Bott late on to ensure the contest ended scoreless.
AS FAR 1–0 Young
AS FAR edged past Young Africans in a tightly fought affair, with patience finally rewarded late in the second half. After an evenly balanced opening period that saw both goalkeepers tested, the breakthrough arrived in the 85th minute when Anas Bach reacted quickest inside the area to fire home a composed right-footed finish.
Young Africans pushed forward in search of an equaliser, having earlier come close through Prince Dube, who struck the post from distance, but FAR Rabat defended resolutely during a lengthy period of stoppage time to secure a vital three points.
The draw keeps both Kabylie and Al-Ahly firmly in contention in Group B, while AS FAR’s victory significantly boosts their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages as the group phase approaches its decisive rounds.
Petro 1–1 Simba
Petro Atletico missed the chance to move into a commanding position in Group D of the CAF Champions League after being held to a late 1–1 draw by Tanzania’s Simba SC in Luanda.
The Angolan champions appeared on course for a crucial victory that would have reshaped the qualification race, only for a late equaliser to deny them two valuable points in a match that underlined the fine margins at the business end of the group stage.
Petro Atletico made a bright start on home soil and were rewarded in the 13th minute when Pedro Pinto opened the scoring. Sustained early pressure forced Simba onto the back foot and Pinto took full advantage, finishing confidently to give the hosts an early lead and lift the atmosphere inside the stadium.
The draw lifts Petro Atletico to six points, leaving them third in Group D and level with Espérance de Tunis, while Simba remain bottom of the standings with two points, still without a victory in the group stage.
MC Alger 2–1 Al-Hilal
MC Alger reignited the race for qualification in Group C of the CAF Champions League after handing Al-Hilal Omdurman their first defeat of the group stage with a 2–1 victory in Algiers.
Played at the Stade Ali Ammar (Ali La Pointe), the Matchday 5 encounter saw the Algerian champions deliver a composed and clinical first-half performance before resisting late pressure to claim three crucial points that lift them firmly into contention.
The hosts struck early, capitalising on a costly error by Al-Hilal goalkeeper Sofiane Farid in the 15th minute.
The result moves MC Alger to seven points and into second place in Group C, while Al-Hilal remains top on eight points despite suffering their first setback of the campaign.
