Africa-Press. The sixth and final matchday of the CAF Champions League group stage is set to deliver suspense and drama right to the final whistle, with attention focused on five fixtures that directly affect the ambitions of North African Arab clubs—ranging from a confirmed top spot, to a fight for qualification, to a group that remains wide open until the last moment.
Three teams have already secured places in the quarterfinals: Egypt’s Pyramids, the defending champions who have guaranteed first place in Group A; compatriots Al Ahly, the competition’s record winners (12 titles), who also aim to clinch top spot when they host Morocco’s AS FAR (Royal Army) in Group B; and Stade Malien, the surprise package of the group stage.
Competition is fiercest in Group C, where all four teams still have a chance of reaching the last eight. Sudan’s Al Hilal lead with eight points, followed by Algeria’s MC Alger with seven. South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns are third on six points, while DR Congo’s Saint-Éloi Lupopo are fourth with five.
Eyes will turn to Pretoria, where MC Alger visit Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The Algerian side only need a draw to go through regardless of the result of Al Hilal’s match with Saint-Éloi, because they hold the head-to-head advantage over both.
The match is especially significant for MC Alger coach Rulani Mokwena (39), who faces his former club, with whom he won three South African league titles and lifted the CAF Super Cup in 2023.
Sundowns player Grant Kekana said: “We appreciate everything Mokwena did for us and the club, and he will always have a special place in our hearts, but we know what is at stake on Saturday.” He added: “For 90 minutes there won’t be any of those emotions. Our focus will be on getting a positive result, and then we can shake Mokwena’s hand after the match.”
Sundowns, who must win, also announced on Monday the precautionary suspension of performance analyst Mario Masha amid allegations he leaked sensitive tactical information to Mokwena.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said he hopes “the stadium will be full of our fans supporting the team—nothing more. I hope the opponent doesn’t anticipate or know how we will play. I hope we can control that to ensure the integrity of the match on our side.”
In Group D, Tunisia’s Espérance de Tunis are looking to break out of a run of poor results and show a new face after head coach Maher Kanzari was dismissed following last round’s 1–0 loss to Stade Malien. Espérance host Angola’s Atlético de Luanda on Saturday at Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès, in a group where Stade Malien have already taken one of the two quarterfinal spots.
The Bab Souika club sit second with six points, five behind leaders Stade Malien, who have already secured first place. Atlético de Luanda are third with six points as well, while Tanzania’s Simba are fourth with two.
Espérance need either a win or a draw to reach the quarterfinals. French interim coach Christian Bracconi will lead the team after serving as Kanzari’s assistant.
Morocco’s AS FAR face a tough away trip to Al Ahly at Cairo International Stadium in front of a full crowd, in a match that is decisive for both sides in Group B.
The “Club of the Century” want to secure top spot, which they currently hold with nine points, ahead of AS FAR on eight. The Moroccan side need a draw to guarantee qualification as runners-up, and a win to take first place.
Tanzania’s Young Africans are third with five points and Algeria’s JS Kabylie are fourth with three, meaning Young Africans will be hoping the Moroccan team slip up to keep their own hopes alive—provided they beat JS Kabylie in Zanzibar.
Al Ahly’s Danish coach Jes Thorup is expected to continue rotating his squad to prevent fatigue and give opportunities across the team. He may start Tunisian midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and Moroccan fullback Youssef Belammari after their excellent showing against Ismaily in the domestic league, a match Al Ahly won 2–0.
AS FAR, for their part, know they must get a positive result, as any setback would deepen pressure on Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos.
AS FAR striker Youssef said his team’s group-stage campaign has been good despite difficulties, adding: “We are one step away from reaching our qualification target. A tough match awaits us against Al Ahly at their ground. There are several scenarios for us to qualify, but our goal is one: to get the result that benefits us.”
Morocco’s Renaissance de Berkane face a do-or-die match against Nigeria’s Rivers United at Berkane’s municipal stadium in northeastern Morocco in Group A.
The “Orange” side suffered two consecutive defeats in the last two rounds—3–0 against Pyramids and then against Zambia’s Power Dynamos—delaying qualification and leaving them in a tricky position.
Berkane are second in Group A with seven points, level with Power Dynamos. Pyramids have already clinched first place with 13 points, while Rivers United are bottom with one.
The Moroccan representatives know that winning at home, in front of their supporters, would give them a decisive edge in the race for the second ticket to the knockout rounds, in their first-ever CAF Champions League campaign.
Tunisian coach Moïne Chaâbani will be without fullback Hamza Moussaoui (suspension), international goalkeeper Munir El Mohamadi (injury), and Mohamed El Mourabiti for disciplinary reasons. However, midfielder Yassine Labhiri returns, and defender Tayeb Boukhriss has recovered from injury.
Pyramids enter the final matchday in a comfortable position and will host the Zambian side at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo as they look to boost their points tally.
