The race for a place in the CAF Champions League semi-finals is finely poised as the quarter-final second legs take centre stage on Tuesday and Wednesday, with tight margins and fierce rivalries ensuring tension across all four fixtures.
Following a narrow 1-0 win in Pretoria, Mamelodi Sundowns head to Tunis to face Espérance Sportive de Tunis on Tuesday evening.
The South African side holds a slender advantage, but the North African giants are known for their resilience at home.
With a semi-final berth on the line, the encounter is expected to be a test of nerve as much as skill.
In a parallel fixture, Al Ahly will travel to Mauritania to take on Al Hilal of Sudan.
The Egyptian giants, defending champions of the competition, also carry a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
Despite their edge, Al Ahly will be wary of an Al Hilal side determined to reverse the deficit on neutral ground due to the ongoing instability in Sudan.
Every detail will matter in a match where a single goal could shift the momentum entirely.
In Rabat, AS FAR face a daunting task against Egypt’s Pyramids FC.
The Moroccan club fell to a 4-1 defeat in the first leg, a result that leaves them needing nothing short of a miraculous comeback in front of their home fans.
The Pyramids, meanwhile, will look to manage their commanding lead and secure a historic place in the semi-finals with a composed performance.
The action continues on Wednesday, when Orlando Pirates host MC Alger in South Africa.
The Pirates lead the tie 1-0 thanks to their win in Algiers, and will look to capitalise on home advantage to close out the contest.
However, MC Alger will be motivated to bounce back and keep Algeria’s hopes alive in the competition.
Quarter-final return leg schedule (All times GMT):
Tuesday, April 8:
- 19:00 – Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) vs. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) | First leg: 0-1
- 19:00 – Al Hilal (Sudan) vs. Al Ahly (Egypt) | First leg: 0-1
- 19:00 – AS FAR Rabat (Morocco) vs. Pyramids FC (Egypt) | First leg: 1-4
Wednesday, April 9:
- 16:00 – Orlando Pirates (South Africa) vs. MC Alger (Algeria) | First leg: 1-0
With slim margins and everything to play for, the upcoming fixtures promise a gripping chapter in this season’s CAF Champions League campaign.
