The third round of the African Champions League unfolded over the weekend, showcasing both triumphs and setbacks for participating teams. While Esperance from Tunis and National Al Ahly from Cairo are on the verge of securing a spot in the semi-finals, ASO Chlef from Algeria and Zamalek, the other Cairo-based club, find themselves virtually eliminated from the competition.
In Group A, the Tunisian derby favored Esperance de Tunis, who secured a 1-0 victory against Etoile du Sahel. Khaled Mouelhi’s penalty in the 41st minute secured the lone goal for EST. The match was played exclusively in front of Esperance supporters, with a reciprocal agreement for the return match in Sousse on August 18. With this win, Esperance maintains a perfect record with three victories in as many matches, accumulating a total of 9 points.
In the same group, ASO Chlef faced a 2-0 defeat against Nigeria’s Sunshine Stars. Alaba Adeniyi (48th minute) and Izu Azuka (60th minute) contributed to Chlef’s third consecutive loss, practically extinguishing their chances of advancing to the semi-finals.
Group B witnessed Tout Puissant Mazembe demonstrating its dominance against Zamalek. The Congolese club secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Kasongo (70th minute) and Samatta (77th minute), effectively putting Zamalek on the brink of elimination from the semi-final contention. Despite Zamalek’s three consecutive defeats, TP Mazembe has revitalized its campaign, now sharing the second position with Berekum Chelsea (Ghana), both with 4 points. Berekum Chelsea suffered a loss against Al Ahly, who continued their commanding run in Group B with a 4-1 win.
In the absence of key players Mohamed Aboutreika, Emad Moteab, and Ahmed Fathi, who were retained for the Olympic Games, Al Ahly exhibited no mercy against Berekum Chelsea. Abdullah El Saied (17th minute), Mohamed Naguib (35th minute), and a brace from Walid Soliman (68th and 72nd minutes) secured the Egyptian team’s victory. Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage after Richard Kissi Boateng’s expulsion just before halftime, Berekum Chelsea struggled, with Emmanuel Clottey being the sole scorer. Al Ahly now enjoys a substantial 5-point lead over TP Mazembe and Berekum Chelsea.
As the competition progresses, the six-time African champion, Al Ahly, will embark on two away fixtures to Accra and Lubumbashi before hosting their neighbor, Zamalek, during the return phase.
