Algerian Club CS Constantine have been drawn against defending champions Esperance of Tunis. Arouna Dang’s CS Constantine are playing the CAF Champions League only for the second time but finished in second place in Group C behind five times champions TP Mazembe. In the quarterfinals Denis Lavagne’s team will face three times champions and current cup holders Esperance of Tunis who have one of the best and most experienced midfielders, Cameroon’s Franck Kom. The Cameroon midfielder has been in fine form in the competition. Kom’s Esperance topped Group B winning four games and drawing two.
In the other games, eight times champions Al Ahly of Cairo will face Pitso Mosimane’s Mamelodi Sundowns of Pretoria. Sundowns became the second South African team to win the competition after Orlando Pirates in 1995, when they lifted the trophy in 2016.
Jean Francis Dipita Ebele’s Horoya FC will face Moussa Abagana’s TP Mazembe. Both Cameroonians are fringe players for their respective clubs but will hope to help their teams to ultimate glory.
Moroccan giants Wydad of Casablanca who defeated Al Ahly in the finals in 2017 will have to eliminate 19 times Tanzanian champions and 1993 CAF cup finalists, Simba FC for a place in the semifinals. Simba FC qualified for the quarterfinals from Group D along side Al Ahly of Egypt. Their Belgian coach Patrick Aussem will want to be the first man to lead a Tanzanian side to an African club football trophy.
Full Quarter-Finals Pairings
CS Constantine 🇩🇿 vs 🇹🇳 Esperance Tunis
#CSCEST
Horoya AC 🇬🇳 vs 🇲🇦 Wydad AC
#HACWAC
Mamelodi Sundowns 🇿🇦 vs 🇪🇬 Al Ahly SC
#MSFCASC
Simba SC 🇹🇿 vs 🇨🇩 TP Mazembe
#SSCTPM
1st Leg – 5th & 6th April.
2nd Leg – 12th & 13th April.
The first leg games will be played on April 5th and 6th while the return leg matches comes up a week later.
Muambo Edward.
