As the group stage of the African Champions League draws to a close, attention now shifts to the quarterfinals, where Al Ahly, the Egyptian powerhouse, awaits their next challenge.
Topping Group D, Al Ahly’s performance has ignited speculation about potential matchups in the next round.
The draw for the quarterfinals is eagerly anticipated, with Al Ahly likely to face one of the runners-up from the other three groups: TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Simba from Tanzania, or Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis.
Should Al Ahly cross paths with TP Mazembe, it would mark a historic clash between two African giants in the knockout stages of the tournament.
The two sides have never met in the knockout phase of the African Champions League, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the potential matchup.
TP Mazembe shares the distinction of being the second-most successful club in the competition’s history, tied with Egypt’s Zamalek, while Al Ahly sits comfortably atop the leaderboard with 11 titles to their name.
Another possibility is a reunion between Al Ahly and Simba, the Tanzanian outfit whom they faced in the quarterfinals of the 2021 edition of the tournament.
That encounter was closely contested, with Al Ahly narrowly advancing on away goals after a 2-2 draw in the first leg followed by a 1-1 draw in the return leg.
Their most recent meeting in the group stage saw Al Ahly secure a 1-0 victory at home but suffer a defeat by the same scoreline away.
The third potential opponent for Al Ahly is Esperance de Tunis, setting the stage for a classic encounter between two perennial contenders in the African Champions League.
Their recent clashes in various knockout stages of the tournament have added to the rivalry between the two clubs.
In the semifinals of the previous edition, Al Ahly emerged victorious with convincing wins in both legs, signaling their dominance.
