CAF Champions League title holders Esperance de Tunis have ended their group stage campaign on a low note, following a surprise 1-0 loss away to JS Kabylie on Saturday evening.

The Group D clash at Stade du 1er Novembre 1954 in Tizi Ouzou had little riding on it, with JSK already eliminated and Esperance guaranteed top spot.

Yet the ‘Blood and Gold’ would have been hoping to retain an unbeaten record heading into the quarterfinals, where they will come up against tougher tests.

The Algerian hosts claimed the victory thanks to a second-half strike from Rezki Hamroune, with the resulting three points enough to push them into third place on the final standings.

Second spot belongs to Raja Casablanca, who defeated AS Vita 1-0 at Stade Mohamed V thanks to an early strike from Badr Banoun.

Raja finish level with Esperance on 11 points at the top of the log, but the Tunisians retain top spot on head-to-head record, having taken four points off the Moroccan club in their two Group D meetings.

DR Congo side ASV finished bottom of the log on four points.

Esperance and Raja join Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad Casablanca, TP Mazembe and Zamalek in the coming week’s quarterfinal draw....

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, GROUP D RESULTS, SATURDAY 1 FEBRUARY

Raja Casablanca 1-0 AS Vita
JS Kabylie 1-0 Esperance de Tunis