{"id":4726,"date":"2026-02-14T02:31:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T02:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/home\/caf-champions-league-decisive-final-group-matchday"},"modified":"2026-02-14T04:21:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T04:21:06","slug":"caf-champions-league-decisive-final-group-matchday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/sport\/caf-champions-league-decisive-final-group-matchday","title":{"rendered":"CAF Champions League: Decisive Final Group Matchday"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. <\/strong> <\/span>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\u2014ranging from a confirmed top spot, to a fight for qualification, to a group that remains wide open until the last moment.<\/p>\n

Three teams have already secured places in the quarterfinals: Egypt\u2019s Pyramids, the defending champions who have guaranteed first place in Group A; compatriots Al Ahly, the competition\u2019s record winners (12 titles), who also aim to clinch top spot when they host Morocco\u2019s AS FAR (Royal Army) in Group B; and Stade Malien, the surprise package of the group stage.<\/p>\n

Competition is fiercest in Group C, where all four teams still have a chance of reaching the last eight. Sudan\u2019s Al Hilal lead with eight points, followed by Algeria\u2019s MC Alger with seven. South Africa\u2019s Mamelodi Sundowns are third on six points, while DR Congo\u2019s Saint-E\u0301loi Lupopo are fourth with five.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s match with Saint-E\u0301loi, because they hold the head-to-head advantage over both.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Sundowns player Grant Kekana said: \u201cWe 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.\u201d He added: \u201cFor 90 minutes there won\u2019t be any of those emotions. Our focus will be on getting a positive result, and then we can shake Mokwena\u2019s hand after the match.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said he hopes \u201cthe stadium will be full of our fans supporting the team\u2014nothing more. I hope the opponent doesn\u2019t anticipate or know how we will play. I hope we can control that to ensure the integrity of the match on our side.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Group D, Tunisia\u2019s Espe\u0301rance 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\u2019s 1\u20130 loss to Stade Malien. Espe\u0301rance host Angola\u2019s Atle\u0301tico de Luanda on Saturday at Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Rade\u0300s, in a group where Stade Malien have already taken one of the two quarterfinal spots.<\/p>\n

The Bab Souika club sit second with six points, five behind leaders Stade Malien, who have already secured first place. Atle\u0301tico de Luanda are third with six points as well, while Tanzania\u2019s Simba are fourth with two.<\/p>\n

Espe\u0301rance need either a win or a draw to reach the quarterfinals. French interim coach Christian Bracconi will lead the team after serving as Kanzari\u2019s assistant.<\/p>\n

Morocco\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

The \u201cClub of the Century\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

Tanzania\u2019s Young Africans are third with five points and Algeria\u2019s JS Kabylie are fourth with three, meaning Young Africans will be hoping the Moroccan team slip up to keep their own hopes alive\u2014provided they beat JS Kabylie in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n

Al Ahly\u2019s 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\u20130.<\/p>\n

AS FAR, for their part, know they must get a positive result, as any setback would deepen pressure on Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos.<\/p>\n

AS FAR striker Youssef said his team\u2019s group-stage campaign has been good despite difficulties, adding: \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morocco\u2019s Renaissance de Berkane face a do-or-die match against Nigeria\u2019s Rivers United at Berkane\u2019s municipal stadium in northeastern Morocco in Group A.<\/p>\n

The \u201cOrange\u201d side suffered two consecutive defeats in the last two rounds\u20143\u20130 against Pyramids and then against Zambia\u2019s Power Dynamos\u2014delaying qualification and leaving them in a tricky position.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Tunisian coach Moi\u0308ne Chaa\u0302bani 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Africa<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2014ranging from a confirmed top spot, to a fight for qualification, to a group that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":4725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[120],"class_list":{"0":"post-4726","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sport","8":"tag-africa"},"yoast_head":"\nCAF Champions League: Decisive Final Group Matchday - Africa Press English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"-article-header-tag"> Africa-Press. 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