CAF Champions League

African giants bank on home ground advantage in CAF Champions League


Aiming for the CAF Champions League semis. Photo | BackpagePix
Aiming for the CAF Champions League semis. Photo | BackpagePix

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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