The first-leg matches of the 2018–2019 CAF Champions League quarter-finals are set for this Saturday, with only eight teams remaining in the race for African club supremacy. North African sides continue to dominate the tournament, but clubs from across the continent are prepared to battle for a place in the semi-finals.
Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca faces a challenging trip to Guinea, where they will meet Horoya AC. The Moroccan side will be without four key players for the encounter, adding extra difficulty to an already crucial fixture. Horoya AC, playing at the Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry, will aim to leverage home advantage and pressure Wydad from the opening whistle in pursuit of a positive result ahead of the return leg.
Meanwhile, TP Mazembe is in Dar es Salaam preparing to face reigning Tanzanian champions Simba SC at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium. The Congolese giants are favorites for the title, but Simba, appearing in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history, are determined to make a statement on home soil. The Tanzanian club will hope to secure a result that could set up an exciting second-leg showdown against one of Africa’s most decorated teams.
Algeria’s CS Constantine will also play a key first-leg match, hosting defending champions ES Tunis at the Chahid-Hamlaoui Stadium. The Algerian representatives will be looking to take control of the tie and position themselves for a historic progression to the semi-finals. ES Tunis, winners of last year’s tournament, arrive in Constantine determined to defend their crown and continue their strong continental record.
One of the most anticipated encounters will feature two recent champions going head-to-head: South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Egypt’s Al Ahly. Al Ahly, seeking to reclaim the continental title and erase the disappointment of last year’s final defeat to Espérance de Tunis, will face a Sundowns side that demonstrated resilience and skill to secure hard-fought qualification from the group stage. This match promises to be tightly contested, with both teams boasting experienced squads capable of turning the tie in their favor.
The quarter-finals set the stage for high-stakes, competitive football, with clubs from across the continent bringing tactical discipline, quality, and ambition to each fixture. Home advantage and squad depth will play a crucial role, as teams seek to establish an early edge before the return legs.
The schedule for Saturday’s first-leg matches (GMT) is as follows:
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1:00 PM: Simba SC (Tanzania) – TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
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1:00 PM: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – Al Ahly (Egypt)
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4:00 PM: Horoya AC (Guinea) – Wydad AC (Morocco)
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7:00 PM: CS Constantine (Algeria) – ES Tunis (Tunisia)
As the quarter-finals commence, all eyes will be on these fixtures to see which clubs can assert themselves and secure the advantage ahead of the second-leg encounters. With the semi-finals within reach, every match promises intensity, tactical intrigue, and the excitement that has defined this season’s CAF Champions League.
