CAFCL: Holders Ahly, South Africa’s Sundowns advance to semi-finals after seeing off Tanzanian giants
Title holders Al Ahly secured their spot in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League on Friday night after a commanding 2-0 win over Tanzanian side Simba.
The Egyptian giants reached the last four thanks to goals by Omar El-Sulaya and Mahmoud Kahraba at Cairo International Stadium.
Al Ahly will now face the winner of the match between TP Mazembe and Petro de Luanda in the semi-finals of the competition, as they seek to retain the title.
The Cairo-based side displayed their dominance from the outset, seeking an early breakthrough to unsettle their opponents. French striker Antony Modeste threatened Simba’s defence in the 11th minute, but his header narrowly missed the target.
Modeste came close again in the 22nd minute, only for the referee to disallow the goal for an offside call against his teammate, El Shahat, who provided the assist.
Despite Simba’s attempts to advance and create opportunities, they found themselves thwarted by Al Ahly’s goalkeeper, Mostafa Shobier, who made crucial saves in the 33rd minute to keep his team’s goal intact.
The first half ended goalless, with both teams locked in a battle for supremacy.
However, Al Ahly broke the deadlock early in the second half when Omar El-Sulaya capitalized on a chance in the 47th minute, firing a powerful shot past Simba’s Moroccan goalkeeper, Ayoub Lakred, to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Simba intensified their attacks in search of an equalizer, but their efforts were in vain. Meanwhile, Al Ahly remained proactive in attack, aiming to extend their lead.
In stoppage time, Al Ahly was awarded a penalty after El Shahat was fouled inside the box.
Mahmoud Kahraba stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly converted it in the 90+6th minute, sealing a 2-0 victory for Al Ahly over Simba SC.
Mamelodi Sundowns clinched their spot in the semi-final after a tense penalty shootout victory over Young Africans on Friday.
The South African giants had to dig deep to overcome their resilient Tanzanian opponents, with the match culminating in a goalless draw after extra time.
The dramatic shootout unfolded, ultimately ending 3-2 in favour of Sundowns.
Young Africans proved to be formidable adversaries, fiercely contesting every ball and frustrating their South African counterparts.
Despite relentless pressure from Sundowns, the Tanzanian side held firm, with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams particularly influential in keeping his team in the game.
A pivotal moment came in the 51st minute when Ivorian forward Joseph Guede squandered a golden opportunity to break the deadlock, failing to beat the vigilant Williams in a one-on-one situation.
Despite mounting pressure, Young Africans remained resolute, with their defensive line standing firm against waves of Sundowns attacks.
The deadlock persisted until the penalty shootout, where Williams emerged as the hero, saving two crucial spot-kicks to propel Sundowns to victory.
The triumph marks another milestone for Williams, who was named the best goalkeeper in the recent TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
With their place secured in the final, Sundowns now await the winner of the clash between ASEC Mimosas and Esperance.
