The CAF Champions League will see quarter-final, first-leg matches played across the African continent, as the continent’s premier club competition begins the business end of its 2021-22 edition.
Egyptian giants Al-Ahly finished preparations in readiness for their match against Raja Casablanca of Morocco on Saturday at Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo at 10:00pm Cairo Local Time.
As reigning African kings Ahly welcomes Raja Casablanca in Cairo, Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca will tackle hosts CR Belouizdad of Algeria in another clash at Stade du 5 Juillet.
Ahly manager Pitso Mosimane will want to see his side bounce back from a domestic league defeat at the hands of Al-Masry last week.
“The next match is an opportunity for players to regain confidence and prove themselves. It’s good that we will play in the Cairo International Stadium, that way we can play the Al-Ahly style,” said the South African tactician.
As for Wydad and their tie with CRB, Coach Walid Regragui is urging his team to “keep our feet on the ground to beat this team and qualify for the semi-finals”.
He added, “It’s a duel that will be difficult, but the advantage we have is that the return match will be played in Casablanca.”
The return-leg matches will be played on Friday April 22 and Saturday April 23.
Al-Ahly-Raja clash in the first-leg at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo, just slightly less than five months since they last met, in the CAF Super Cup which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Al-Ahly, winners of the Champions League last season, ultimately triumphed over the Confederation Cup champions on penalties.
This will be the fourth time the two sides meet in the recent past, and the third in the Champions League.
Their last meeting in the competition was in 2005, The Red Devils winning the first leg 1-0 at home before playing to a 1-1 draw in the return leg away.
Holders have not been as impressive as many would have expected them to be in the group stages, but what matters to them most is the fact that they are in the quarters.
Raja has had a fairly successful group stage campaign, winning five of their six matches to top their group.
They only conceded twice and this will offer the backbone of their campaign as they face Ahly.
Saturday evening sees the only sub-Saharan teams go to battle in the Angolan capital city, as Petro de Luanda welcome Mamelodi Sundowns to Estadio 11 de Novembro.
Petro was the surprise package of the group stage, suffering just one defeat in a group that also featured Wydad Casablanca, Zamalek and their compatriots Sagrada Esperanca, but in Downs they face a tough and experienced team that came through their group stage campaign unbeaten – including home and away wins over Al-Ahly.
Nonetheless, despite their impressive recent form (Sundowns is on a run of seven straight wins across all competitions, scoring 29 goals in the process), co-coach Rulani Mokwena is wary of the threat posed by their opponents.
“Petro is a very good side with good Champions League experience, they’ve been here for three seasons in a row,” Mokwena noted.
“It’s their first time in the quarter-finals but what we’ve seen in the group is that they are a very capable team.”
Saturday’s Fixtures
6:00pm Petro de Luanda vs Mamelodi Sundowns
10:00pm Al-Ahly vs Raja Casablanca
11:00pm CR Belouizdad vs Wydad Casablanca
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