CAF Champions League Quarter-Final Draw: High-Stakes Battles Await Top African Clubs
The excitement is palpable as the knockout stage of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League approaches, following the quarter-final and semi-final draws conducted by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) on February 20, 2025.
The draw, hosted live from beIN SPORTS’ state-of-the-art studios in Doha, Qatar, revealed four electrifying quarter-final fixtures that will see Africa’s elite clubs clash over two legs in a bid to secure their place in the semi-finals.
Defending champions Al Ahly SC of Egypt will face Sudan’s Al Hilal SC in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter. Al Ahly, with a record 12 titles to their name, aims to become the first team in history to lift the trophy for three consecutive seasons. Despite finishing as runners-up in their group, they remain a formidable force. Al Hilal, coached by DR Congo’s Florent Ibengé, topped their group while hosting matches in Mauritania due to ongoing conflict in Sudan, and their solid defense will be key against the reigning champions.
In another exciting matchup, Pyramids FC, known for their attacking flair, will take on Moroccan giants AS FAR. Under Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurčić, Pyramids scored an impressive 14 goals during the group stage, sharing the top scoring record. AS FAR, managed by Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos, enters the quarter-finals unbeaten, setting the stage for a thrilling clash.
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns will face off against Esperance Sportive de Tunis. Sundowns, previous champions in 2016, are eager to overcome their semi-final hurdles, having not progressed past that stage since their title win. Esperance, four-time champions, recently claimed the Tunisian Super Cup under Romanian coach Laurențiu Reghecampf and will be looking to assert their dominance.
The final quarter-final will see Algeria’s MC Alger, who conceded just two goals in the group stage, go up against South Africa’s Orlando Pirates. The Pirates, champions in 1995, topped their group with 14 points and are aiming for a semi-final return after last finishing as runners-up in 2013. MC Alger, guided by Tunisian coach Khaled Ben Yahia, boasts the competition’s stingiest defense.
The semi-final line-up has also been determined, setting up intriguing matchups. The winner of the Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Esperance clash will face either Al Ahly or Al Hilal, while the victor between MC Alger and Orlando Pirates will meet the winner of the Pyramids versus AS FAR match.
All quarter-final matches are scheduled to be played over two legs, with the first leg on April 1 and the return leg on April 8. The semi-finals will follow a similar format, culminating in the prestigious final in June.
