Aiming for the CAF Champions League semis. Photo | BackpagePix

CAF Champions League

African giants bank on home ground advantage in CAF Champions League

African giants will be banking on their home ground advantage in their CAF Champions League quarter-final second-leg encounters.

Two-time African champions Wydad Casablanca are set to welcome Algerian side CR Belouizdad at the Stade Mohammed V in Morocco on Sunday at midnight.

Wydad are leading 1-0 on aggregate courtesy of Guy Mbenza's second-half goal in the first-leg encounter which was played in Algeria on April 16.

Meanwhile, four-time African champions Esperance de Tunis will play host to ES Setif of Algeria at the Stade Hammadi Agrebi in Tunisia on Friday night.

Setif were held to a 0-0 draw by the Tunisian champions in the first-leg clash in Algeria on April 15 with Esperance dominating the game without scoring.

While Mamelodi Sundowns, who lifted the 2016 Champions League title, will be desperate for a win when they host Petro de Luanda at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The South African champions are trailing 2-1 on aggregate having suffered a surprise defeat to Petro in the first-leg encounter in Angola on April 16.

Lastly, defending champions Al Ahly will be looking to avoid a defeat in order to progress to the semi-finals when they face Raja Casablanca of Morocco on Saturday at midnight.

The two teams will meet at the Stade Mohammed V in Morocco with Al Ahly having claimed a 2-1 win in the first-leg match in Egypt on April 16.

The winner on aggregate between Al Ahly and Raja will take on either Esperance or Setif in the semi-finals, while Sundowns or Petro will face Wydad or Belouizdad in the last four. 

CAF Champions League - Quarter-finals second-leg fixtures

Friday, April 22
22h00 - Esperance de Tunis v ES Setif

Saturday, April 23
17h00 - Mamelodi Sundowns v Petro de Luanda
23h00 - Raja Casablanca v Al Ahly

Sunday, April 24
23h00 - Wydad Casablanca v CR Belouizdad