With the final four matches of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals taking place this weekend, we took an in-depth look at how the crucial clashes are likely to play out.
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This weekend, we will find out who the semi-finalists of the 2023/24 edition of Africa's premier club competition will be as Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, ASEC Mimosas, Petro de Luanda, TP Mazembe, Esperance de Tunis, Simba and Young Africans all play to get closer to that famed trophy and $4 million (R74.6 million) prize money.
Three of the four first legs ended in goalless draws, with record champions Al Ahly being the only team to find the back of the net, but with the group-stage winners returning to their home grounds, there is likely to be more attacking enterprise in each encounter even if there aren't really a lot of goals.
Petro de Luanda vs TP Mazembe
The Angolan outfit managed to maintain their impressive record of not conceding a goal in this season's Champions League proper when they travelled to Lubumbashi last time out. That record was, however, drastically tested against the Ravens as they looked the more threatening throughout the match. They did not make the most of their chances, though. Former Cape Town City goalkeeper Hugo Marques also made some impressive saves, but Mazembe overall were not clinical. At home for the second leg, Alexandre Santos' side is likely to have more of the ball and subsequently create more chances, because they did not look threatening in the first leg. Mazembe's strong wing play will probably come in handy if they do spend a lot of the time off the ball. A lot of their attacks last weekend came through crosses from their right-back Ibrahima Keita, but this will probably be a more free-flowing, but still tough, contest.
Al Ahly vs Simba
The match that had the only goal during the first legs. The Tanzanian outfit will be frustrated at not being able to find the back of the net after creating the chances they made in Dar es Salaam, because it seems unlikely they will enjoy the same amount of possession in Cairo. The Red Devils will be looking to put the game to bed early, but having already played the same opposition three times before this season, the Reds of Msimbazi will have a good idea how to defend against them. The Cairo-based side is still without many players as they are going through an injury crisis, so fatigue could play a role. Ahly at home are generally more positive in attack so they will likely score again, but that also means Simba will have chances, but whether or not they will be able to capitalise this time remains the question.
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Young Africans
This match was perhaps the most tactical of all the games played during the first legs. While Yanga were penned in by Masandawana for most of the match, it seemed as though it was beyond their control. It looked as though they actually wanted to play out from the back and build up the pitch, and whenever they did, they were able to create some dangerous situations for the Downs defence, but they also struggled to be clinical like their local rivals Simba against Ahly. At Loftus Versfeld, they are likely to be more intentional about their sitting back, because at home, the DStv Premiership champions create a lot of chances through a variety of ways. Rulani Mokwena's side is the only team of the quarter-finalists to have played in midweek, but with many of his starters rested for that league tie against Richards Bay on Tuesday, they will be raring to put pressure on their east African opponents early. The Tanzanian Premier League champions will not be shy to venture forward, but it will be vital that they do so at the right moments during the match.
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ASEC Mimosas vs Esperance de Tunis
While Yanga may have not been intentional in parking the bus, ASEC entered their quarter-final with seemingly that exact intention. Their Tunisian foes had a lot of the ball as the Ivorians sat back and defended well for the whole match. The north Africans did not create any big chances and that may haunt them because the Yellow and Blacks have only conceded three goals, going as far back as the preliminary rounds, during their continental run. A similar sort of game is likely to play out in the second match, but the west African side will be looking to be effective in the final third.
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