The fifth round of the group stage in the African Champions League came to an end on Saturday, delivering major developments in the race for the quarterfinals. At the close of this decisive matchday, two clubs have officially secured their qualification for the next round: Espérance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns. Their results confirmed their consistency and ambition in a competition that continues to produce intense and closely contested battles across all four groups.
Defending champions Espérance de Tunis were the first to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals. The Tunisian giants sealed qualification on Friday with a solid 2-0 home victory over Horoya AC of Guinea. Once again, Espérance demonstrated their experience and composure at this level, controlling the match and confirming their status as one of the tournament favorites. With this win, the Blood and Gold comfortably topped Group B, leaving the remaining teams to fight for the second qualifying spot.
Mamelodi Sundowns followed suit on Saturday. The 2016 African champions delivered an emphatic performance against Nigeria’s Lobi Stars, cruising to a convincing 3-0 victory. Playing with confidence and attacking intent, the South African side left no room for doubt and secured their place among the last eight. This result was particularly important in Group A, where qualification remains fiercely contested behind Sundowns.
In the same group, ASEC Mimosas reignited the battle by defeating Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in Abidjan. The Ivorian club kept their hopes alive thanks to a disciplined display, while Wydad missed an opportunity to qualify early. As a result, the Moroccan side will now face a high-pressure final match against Sundowns, with qualification still hanging in the balance.
Group B also saw an entertaining draw between Orlando Pirates and FC Platinum, who shared the spoils in a 2-2 encounter. While Espérance have already qualified, the race for second place remains open, promising a tense final round.
In Group C, Club Africain claimed a valuable away win in Algeria, edging Constantine 1-0 to boost their chances of progression. Meanwhile, Ismaily and TP Mazembe played out a 1-1 draw in Egypt, a result that keeps the Congolese giants in contention but leaves everything to be decided on the final matchday. With points tightly clustered, Group C remains one of the most unpredictable groups in the competition.
Group D provided some of the biggest drama of the weekend. Facing elimination, AS Vita Club produced a courageous performance to defeat Al Ahly of Cairo 1-0 in Kinshasa. The Congolese side, bottom of the group before kickoff, showed resilience and determination to overcome the African powerhouse and keep their quarterfinal hopes alive. In the other match, JS Saoura strengthened their position by beating Simba SC 2-0, further tightening the standings.
With one round remaining, the African Champions League promises a thrilling conclusion to the group stage. While Espérance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns can now prepare calmly for the knockout phase, several traditional heavyweights and ambitious outsiders will battle fiercely for the remaining spots, ensuring high drama and suspense across the continent.
