Esperance, others clinches quarter-final berth in CAF Champions League
4th March 2024
Esperance Sportive de Tunis of Tunisia secured a hard-fought Quarter-Final spot in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, completing the lineup of the top eight teams vying for the prestigious trophy.
In a fiercely contested match at home, the Tunisians managed a narrow 1-0 victory against Al Hilal SC to advance to the next stage of the competition.
Among the teams securing their places in the quarter-finals are five former champions, alongside two teams from Tanzania: Simba and Young Africans.
The list of qualified teams features illustrious names in African football, with three yet to claim continental success. Al Ahly (11 titles), TP Mazembe (5 titles), Esperance (4 titles), ASEC Mimosas (1 title), and Mamelodi Sundowns (1 title) boast impressive championship pedigrees.
Defending champions Al Ahly continued their title defense with a 1-0 home victory over Young Africans, topping Group D with 12 points.
Despite a loss to Al Ahly, Young Africans secured the second spot in the group, edging out Belouizdad despite their 3-0 defeat to Medeama in the group's other match.
Mamelodi Sundowns secured the top spot in Group A with 13 points after a 1-0 victory over TP Mazembe in Pretoria. TP Mazembe also advanced to the quarter-finals, finishing second with ten points.
In Group B, ASEC Mimosas claimed the top spot with 11 points despite losing to former champions Wydad Casablanca.
Simba's resounding 6-0 win over Jwaneng Galaxy propelled them to the quarter-finals, securing their advancement on nine points.
From Group C, Petro de Luanda of Angola clinched the top spot with 12 points after a 2-0 victory over Etoile du Sahel. Esperance secured second place with 11 points following their 1-0 win over Al Hilal.
CAF will soon announce the date for the draw of the quarter-finals, setting the stage for the thrilling knockout stage of the CAF Champions League.
**Quarter-Final Teams:**
1. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
2. TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
3. ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
4. Simba (Tanzania)
5. Petro de Luanda (Angola)
6. Esperance (Tunisia)
7. Al Ahly (Egypt)
8. Young Africans (Tanzania)