LUANDA/ ABIDJAN — Egyptian giants Al-Ahly and Pyramids FC secured victories in the CAF Champions League, overcoming Côte d’Ivoire’s Stade d’Abidjan and Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca, respectively.
In Luanda, Pyramids FC earned their first-ever CAF Champions League quarter-final berth with a dramatic 1-0 win over Sagrada Esperança in Group D.
Meanwhile, Emam Ashour’s hat-trick propelled reigning champions Al-Ahly to a 3-1 victory over Stade d’Abidjan in the fifth round of Group C in Abidjan.
Substitute Marawan Hamdi proved to be the hero, netting Pyramids’ winner in the 94th minute to send the Egyptian side to the top of Group D with 10 points.
The match, played at a brisk tempo, saw Pyramids dominate possession but struggle to convert their chances.
Sagrada had their own opportunities, with their forward missing a golden chance in the 75th minute.
But as the game seemed destined for a draw, Hamdi capitalized on a defensive lapse to score the decisive goal.
The defeat leaves Sagrada on five points, in third place, while Pyramids cement their position at the summit of the group.
Stade d’Abidjan 1-3 Al-Ahly
Emam Ashour’s sensational hat-trick inspired Al-Ahly to a 3-1 comeback win over Stade d’Abidjan in Ivory Coast, moving the reigning champions closer to the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
The hosts took the lead in the 26th minute through Saint-Jean Corre, but Ashour equalized early in the second half with a clinical finish.
The Egyptian midfielder doubled his tally in the 73rd minute with a towering header off a Khaled Abdel Fattah cross.
Ashour sealed his hat-trick deep into injury time, firing a powerful shot after a swift counterattack.
Maniema 1-2 Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Maniema Union in the fifth round of matches of the group stage.
AR Rabat clinched a last-eight spot after drawing 1-1 with fellow Moroccans Raja Casablanca in the other Group B clash, that also included an own goal.
The match, played at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, kept the South African side firmly in contention for a quarter-final spot.
Maniema Union took the lead in the 38th minute when Congolese forward Jafty Kitambala finished a precise counter-attack to give the home team a deserved advantage.
The second half saw Sundowns dominate possession, with relentless attacking pressure.
Their persistence paid off in the 83rd minute when Namibian striker Peter Shalulile latched onto a cross and struck a composed equaliser to restore parity.
As the match appeared destined for a draw, a heart-breaking moment for Maniema Union occurred in the dying minutes of stoppage time.
Defender Exosya Mwanda inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a dangerous Sundowns cross, handing the visitors a decisive victory.
The result sees Sundowns climb to 8 points, holding second place in Group B, while Maniema Union remain on 3 points and are eliminated from quarter-final contention.
MC Alger 1-0 TP Mazembe
MC Alger kept their quarter-final aspirations alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over TP Mazembe in their CAF Champions League Group A clash.
Akram Bouras scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 36th minute at the Stade 5 Juillet 1962, ensuring Mouloudia moved to eight points, consolidating second place in the group.
Mazembe, meanwhile, remain winless with just two points, sealing their elimination from the competition.
The opening exchanges saw both teams struggle to impose themselves. Mazembe created the first real chance in the 22nd minute, but Bongeli Beenga’s cross went unmet.
Mouloudia found their breakthrough in the 36th minute when Tayeb Meziani was brought down in the box, prompting referee Abongile Tom to award a penalty.
Bouras stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick to the top centre of the net, igniting celebrations among the home crowd.
The Congolese side showed greater urgency in the second half but lacked precision in front of goal.
Jean Diouf came close in the 73rd minute, but Mouloudia goalkeeper Abdelkader Menezla produced a stunning save to preserve his side’s lead.
Mouloudia could have doubled their advantage late on, with Zakaria Naidji and Andy Delort both hitting the woodwork in the final moments of the game.
With Al-Hilal of Sudan already qualified, MC Alger’s victory sets up a tense final group stage matchday.
The Algerian side will travel to Dar es Salaam to face Young Africans, who sit in third place with four points.
Mazembe’s disappointing campaign ends with a home fixture against Al-Hilal, with pride being their only incentive.
