Africa-Press. Sudan’s Al Hilal and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns secured qualification for the CAF Champions League quarterfinals, with Al Hilal beating DR Congo’s Saint-Éloi Lupopo 1-0 and Sundowns defeating Algeria’s MC Alger 2-0 in the sixth and final round of the group stage.
Al Hilal finished top of the group after raising their tally to 11 points, two ahead of Sundowns. MC Alger ended the group stage third with seven points, while Saint-Éloi finished bottom with five.
Stevin Epoela scored the only goal in the 26th minute after receiving the ball outside the box, driving forward and firing a powerful shot from a tight angle that found the net.
Saint-Éloi’s Junior Mendy was sent off one minute before halftime after receiving a second yellow card. Al Hilal’s Salah Eddine Adel was also shown a red card in the 75th minute for a second booking.
MC Alger exit
MC Alger lost 2-0 away to Sundowns and were eliminated, even though a draw would have been enough to reach the last eight.
Bryan Mouniez scored once in each half to send Sundowns through. He opened the scoring seven minutes in, capitalizing on a rebound from the MC Alger goalkeeper to turn the ball into the net.
Mouniez doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, sealing a match in which MC Alger did not perform at their usual level.
Esperance clinch qualification
Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis booked their place from Group D by beating Angola’s Petro Atlético 2-0 in the final round of the group stage.
Malian forward Aboubakar Diakité put Esperance ahead in the 46th minute, before Burkinabè attacker Jack Diarra added the second in the 81st.
With the win, Esperance moved up to nine points in second place—their second victory of the group stage. Petro Atlético’s last hope of qualification ended as they exited the competition in third with six points.
