CAF Champions League: It's Al-Ahly vs. Wydad Casablanca For The Marbles

At Alexandria, Egypt:

Walid Azaro produced a natural hat trick (23', 39', 48') on Sunday as Al-Ahly demolished visiting Etoile du Sahel 6-2 in game two of their CAF Champions League semifinal series and knocked out the Tunisian club 7-4 on aggregate.

The Egyptian club will face Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the two-match final, set to open next Sunday in Egypt, with the return contest set to take place at Casablanca, Morocco on November 6.

The winner would advance to December's FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place in the United Arab Emirates.

CAF Champions League: Wydad Casablanca Dump USM Alger To Advance To Final

At Casablanca, Morocco:

Achraf Bencharki scored twice (54', 90'+1) on Saturday as Wydad Casablanca defeated visiting USM Alger 3-1 in the second game of their CAF Champions League semifinal series and eliminated the Algerian club by that same score on aggregate.

Wydad Casablanca will play in the two-game CAF Champions League final against the winner of the Al-Ahly-Etoile du Sahel series, opening sometime between next Friday and a week from Sunday.

CAF Champions League

At Sousse, Tunisia:

In Sunday's opening game of a CAF Champions League semifinal series, Alaya Brigui (16') and Mohamed Ben Amor (73') each scored once as Etoile du Sahel defeated visiting Al-Ahly 2-1.

Saleh Gomaa kept the Egyptian club in the series with his goal in the 66th minute.

CAF Champions League: Goose Eggs In Algiers For USM And Wydad Casablanca In Semifinal Series Opener

At Algiers, Algeria:

In the opening match of the CAF Champions League's semifinal round on Friday, the opening contest between USM Alger and visiting Wydad Casablanca ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

CAF Champions League: Etoile du Sahel Oust Al-Ahli Tripoli, Advance To Semis

At Sousse, Tunisia:

Amr Marey scored twice (14', 47') on Sunday as Etoile du Sahel blanked visiting Al-Ahli Tripoli 2-0 in the second game of their CAF Champions League quarterfinal-round series and eliminated the Libyan club by that same score on aggregate.



The match-ups are set for the semifinal round of the CAF Champions League, with the opening contests set to be played on September 29-October 1 and the return matches to be contested on October 20-22.

The game-one hosts are listed first:

Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) vs. Al-Ahly (Egypt)

USM Alger (Algeria) vs. Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

CAF Champions League: Al-Ahly, USM Alger, Wydad Casablanca Advance To Semifinals; Defening Champs Mamelodi Sundowns Ousted

The quarterfinal round of the CAF Champions League continued on Saturday with three games.

At Rades, Tunisia:

Ali Maaloul (50') and Junior Ajayi (62') each scored once as Al-Ahly defeated Esperance de Tunis 2-0 on the road in game two and won their series 4-3 on aggregate.



At Algiers, Algeria:

A game-two 0-0 home deadlock with Ferroviario Beira was good enough for USM Alger as the Algerian club, with the aggregate score at 1-1, won their series on away goals.



At Rabat, Morocco:

After Salaheddine Saidi's goal in the 20th minute enabled Wydad Casablanca to outscore visiting Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in regulation in game two and level their two-match series at 1-1 on aggregate, and with overtime dispensed with, the Moroccan club, with Abdeladem Khadrouf, Achraf Bencharki, and Mohammed Ounajem converting their spot kicks,  won the penalty-kick shootout 3-2 to advance to the semifinal round and eliminate the defending champions.

CAF Champions League

Two games were contested on Sunday as the quarterfinal round of the CAF Champions League reached the midway point.

At Alexandria, Egypt (due to security concerns in Libya):

The opening match of the series between Libya's Al-Ahli Tripoli (designated the home club for this game) and Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

At Pretoria, South Africa:

Yannick Zakri scored the only goal of the match in the 71st minute as Mamelodi Sundowns defeated visiting Wydad Casablanca 1-0 in the opening game of their two-match series.

CAF Champions League: Two Draws As Quarterfinals Open

The quarterfinal round of the CAF Champions League commenced on Saturday with two games.

At Beira, Mozambique:

Fabrice Kanda's equalizer in the 89th minute enabled Ferroviario Beira to salvage a series-opening 1-1 home draw with USM Alger.  Oussama Darfalou scored for the Algerian club in the 63rd minute.

At Alexandria, Egypt:

Taha Yassine Khenissi (21') and Ghilane Chalali (48') each scored once as Esperance de Tunis gained a series-opening 2-2 road draw with Al-Ahly.  Abdalla El Said (PK-11') and Walid Azarou (67') produced the Egyptian club's goals. 

CAF Champions League

Four games were played on Sunday as CAF Champions League group-stage action closed.

GROUP B:

At Alexandria, Egypt:

Goals from Mohamed Al Ghandoli (PK-45') and Vianney Mabide (69') carried Al-Ahli Tripoli to a 2-2 road draw with Zamalek and a berth in the quarterfinal round.  Basem Morsy (13') and Maarouf Youssef (75') each delivered a goal for the now-eliminated Egyptian club.

At Algiers, Algeria:

Oussama Darfalou scored twice win the waning minutes (78', 88') as USM Alger wrapped the Group  B crown and a berth in the knockout stage by defeated visiting CAPS United 4-1 and eliminating the Zimbabwean club from the tournament.

Final Group B Standings:

1. USM Alger (GP: 6; GD: +7; PTS: 11)
2. Al-Ahli Tripoli (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 9)
3. Zamalek (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 6)
4. CAPS United (GP: 6; GD: -6; PTS: 6)

USM Alger and Al-Ahli Tripoli advanced to the quarterfinal round.



GROUP C:

At Pretoria, South Africa

Thabo Nthethe's goal in the 35th minute enabled Mamelodi Sundowns to gain a 1-1 home draw with AS Vita Club.  Yazid Atouba equalized for the Congolese club in the 73rd minute.

At Rades, Tunisia:

Khalil Chemmam (29'), Bilel Bejri (36'), Haythem Jouini (82'), and Ali Machani (90'+4) each scored a goal as Esperance de Tunis demolished visiting Saint George 4-0.

Final Group C Standings:

1. Esperance de Tunis (GP: 6; GD: +7; PTS: 12)
2. Mamelodi Sundowns (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 9)
3. AS Vita Club (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 5)
4. Saint George (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 5)

Esperance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns advanced to the quarterfinal round.

CAF Champions League: Al-Ahly, Wydad Casablanca Advance To Quarterfinals

Action in Group D concluded on Saturday with two games as group-stage play in the CAF Champions League continued.

At Alexandria, Egypt:

Amr Gamal scored twice (16', 54') as Al-Ahly locked up a berth in the quarterfinal round after their 3-1 victory over visiting Coton Sport.

At Casablanca, Morocco:

Achraf Bencharki scored the only goal of the match in the 68th minute as Wydad Casablanca defeated visiting Zanaco 1-0 and clinched top spot in Group D while knocking the Zambian club out of the tournament.

Final Group D Standings:

1. Wydad Casablanca (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 12)
2. Al-Ahli (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 11)
3. Zanaco FC (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 11)
4. Coton Sport (GP: 6; GD: -10; PTS: 0)

Wydad Casablanca and Al-Ahli advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Revised Final Group A Standings:

1. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 2; GD: +5; PTS: 4)
2. Ferroviario Beira (GP: 2; GD: -5; PTS: 1)
3. Al-Hilal (GP: 0; GD: 0; PTS: 0)
4. Al-Merrikh (GP: 0; GD: 0; PTS: 0)

Results from all games involving Sudanese clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh prior to their disqualification from the CAF Champions League-----a result of Sudan's soccer federation being suspended this past week by FIFA----have been annulled.

CAF Champions League: Al-Hilal, Al-Merrikh DQed; Etoile du Sahel, Ferroviario Beira Advance By Default

The final matchday of CAF Champions League group-stage contests was originally scheduled to commence on Friday with two games---------------------BUT..............

GROUP A:

Both contests, Etoile du Sahel at home in Sousse, Tunisia against Sudan's Al-Merrikh and Al-Hilal's match at home in Omdurman, Sudan against Mozambique's Ferroviario Beira were cancelled on Friday after the Sudanese football association was suspended the previous day by FIFA and that that country's entrants in the CAF Champions League were disqualified and that Etoile du Sahel and Ferroviario Beira advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Final Group A Standings (revised by the CAF):

1. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 5; GD: +6; PTS: 9)
2. Ferroviario Beira (GP: 5; GD: -5; PTS: 5)
3. Al-Merrikh (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
4. Al-Hilal Omdurman (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 4)

Etoile du Sahel and Ferroviario Beira advanced to the quarterfinal round while Al-Merrikh and Al-Hilal Omdurman, both of them Sudanese clubs, were disqualified.

CAF Champions League: Home Win Keeps CAPS United Alive

At Harare, Zimbabwe:

In the lone Sunday CAF Champions League contest, Abbas Amidu scored twice (75', 90') as CAPS United defeated visiting Zamalek 3-1 in a Group B match.

Group B Standings:

1. USM Alger (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 8)
2. Al-Ahli Tripoli (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
3. CAPS United (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. Zamalek (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 5)

CAF Champions League

Group-stage play in the CAF Champions League continued on Saturday with five games.

GROUP A:

At Maputo, Mozambique:

Slim Ben Belgacem's 84th-minute penalty kick lifed Etoile de Sahel gained a 1-1 road draw with Ferroviario Beira and locked up a berth in the quarterfinal round.  Chelito Omar scored for the hosts in the 72nd minute.

Group A Standings:

1. x-Etoile du Sahel (GP: 5; GD: +6; PTS: 9)
2.    Al-Merrikh (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
3.    Ferroviario Beira (GP: 5; GD: -5; PTS: 5)
4. z-Al-Hilal (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 4)

x-Clinched berth in quarterfinal round

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP C:

At Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Saint George 1-0 on the road and clinched a berth in the knockout stage while eliminating the hosts from the tournament.  Anthony Laffor scored for the South African club in the 85th minute.

At Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo:

By gaining a 2-2 road draw with AS Vita Club, Esperance de Tunis locked up a berth in the quarterfinal round as Taha Yassine Khenissi (11', PK-59') scored both of the Tunisian club's goals.  Tady Etekiama scored both goals (24', 30') for the now-eliminated Congolese club.

Group C Standings:

1. x-Esperance de Tunis (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
2. x-Mamelodi Sundowns (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 8)
3. z-Saint George (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 5)
4. z-AS Vita Club (GP: 5; GD: -4; PTS: 4)

x-Clinched berth in quarterfinal

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP D:

At Lusaka, Zambia:

Zanaco FC battled visiting Al-Ahly to a 0-0 stalemate.

At Garoua, Cameroon:

Wydad Casablanca blanked Coton Sport 2-0 on the road, thanks to goals courtesy of Achraf Bencharki (43') and Naim Aarab (72').

Group D Standingd:

1.    Zanaco (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 11)
2.    Wydad Casablanca (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
3.    Al-Ahly (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 8)
3. z-Coton Sport (GP: 5; GD: -8; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated from tournament

CAF Champions League

Group-stage play in the CAF Champions League resumed on Friday with two games.

GROUP A:

At Omdurman, Sudan:

Mohamed Abdel Raman scored twice (9', 48') as Al-Merrikh held off visiting Al-Hilal 2-1 in an Omdurman Derby.



GROUP B:

At Sfax, Tunisia (due to ongoing security concerns in Libya):

Anis Mohamed Saltou's equalizer  in the 36th minute enabled Al-Ahli Tripoli to gain a 1-1 home draw with USM Alger.  Farouk Chafai scored in the 16th minute for the Algerian club.

CAF Champions League

Three games were played on Tuesday as the second half of CAF Champions League group-stage action commenced.

GROUP A:

At Omdurman, Sudan:

Ahmed Abdalla scored the winning goal in the 59th minute as Al-Merrikh defeated visiting Ferroviario Beira 2-1.



GROUP C:

At Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo:

Tady Etekiama scored twice (7', PK-28') in the first half-hour as AS Vita Club held off visiting Saint George 2-1.



GROUP D:

At Casablanca, Morocco:

Fabrice Ondama (48') and Walid El Karti (78') each scored once as Wydad Casablanca blanked visiting Al-Ahly 2-0.

CAF Champions League

Group-stage play in the CAF Champions League reached the midway point on Sunday with two games.

GROUP C:

At Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

Saladin Said scored the only goal of the match in the 60th minute as Saint George defeated visiting AS Vita Club 1-0.

Group C Standings:

1. Esperance de Tunis (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
2. Saint George (GP: 3: GD: +1; PTS: 5)
3. Mamelodi Sundowns (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
4. AS Vita Club (GP: 3; GD: -5; PTS: 0)



GROUP D:

At Alexandria, Egpyt:

Noamen Zakaria (24') and Junior Ajayi (77') each scored once as Al-Ahly blanked visiting Wydad Casablanca 2-0.

Group D Standings:

1. Zanaco (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
2. Al-Ahly (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
3. Wydad Casablanca (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
4. Coton Sport (GP: 3; GD: -5; PTS: 0)

NOTE:  Zanaco drew 0-0 on the road with Al-Ahly on May 13.

CAF Champions League

Three games were contested in the group stage of the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

GROUP A:

At Beira, Mozambique:

Dayo Antonio scored the only goal of the match in the 67th minute as Ferroviario Beira defeated visiting Al-Merrikh 1-0.

At Sousse, Tunisia:

Mohamed Musa's equalizer in the 80th minute lifted Al-Hilal Omdurman to a 1-1 road draw with Etoile du Sahel.  Zied Boughattas scored for the Tunisian club in the 57th minute.

Group A Standings:

1. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 3; GD: +6; PTS: 7)
2. Ferroviario Beira (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 4)
3. Al-Hilal Omdurman (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. Al-Merrikh (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 1)



GROUP D:

At Lusaka, Zambia:

Ditty Kitumbo scored the winning goal in the 85th minute to power Zanaco past visiting Coton Sport 2-1.

CAF Champions League

Group-stage play in the CAF Champions League resumed on Friday with three games.

GROUP B:

At Harare, Zimbabwe:

Muaid Ellafi scored the winning goal in the 25th minute as Al-Ahli Tripoli took a 4-0 lead and held on for a 4-2 road victory over CAPS United

At Alexandria, Egypt:

Emmanuel Mayuka's equalizer in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time lifted Zamalek to a 1-1 home draw with USM Alger.  Farouk Chafai scored for the Algerian club in the 30th minute. 

Group B Standings:

1. Zamalek (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 5)
2. USM Alger (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 4)
3. Al-Ahli Tripoli (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 4)
4. CAPS United (GP: 3; GD; -3; PTS: 3)

NOTE:  USM Alger defeated Al-Ahly Tripoli 3-0 at home on May 12.



GROUP C:

At Pretoria, South Africa:

Taha Yassine Khenissi scored the winning goal with his successfully-converted penalty kick in the 90th minute as Esperance de Tunis knocked off Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on the road.

CAF Champions League

Group-stage play in the CAF Champions League continued on Wednesday with three games.

GROUP B:

At Harare, Zimbabwe:

Ronald Chitiyo scored twice (16', 81') as CAPS United defeated visiting USM Alger 2-1.

Group B Standings:

1. Zamalek (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 4)
2. CAPS United (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
3. USM Alger (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
4. Al-Ahli Tripoli (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  CAPS United defeated visiting USM Alger 2-1 on Wednesday.



GROUP C:

At Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo:

Krahire Zakri scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 57th minute as defending champs Mamelodi Sundowns knocked off AS Vita Club 3-1 on the road.

Group C Standings:

1. Esperance de Tunis (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 4)
2. Mamelodi Sundowns (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS; 4)
3. Saint George (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
4. AS Vita Club (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 0)

NOTE: Esperance de Tunis have scored three goals through two games, compared to Mamelodi Sundowns' two.



GROUP D:

At Lusaka, Zambia:

Ernest Mbewe scored the only goal in the 13th minute as Zanaco defeated visiting Wydad Casablanca 1-0.

Group D Standings:

1. Al-Ahly (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 4)
2. Zanaco (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Wydad Casablanca (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS; 3)
4. Coton Sport (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS; 0)

CAF Champions League

Group-stage play in the CAF Champions League resumed on Tuesday with five games.

GROUP A:

At Maputo, Mozambique:

Ferroviario Beira and visiting Al-Hilal Omdurman battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

At Omdurman, Sudan:

Hameur Bouazza scored the game winner in the third minute of second-half stoppage time as Etoile du Sahel knocked off Al-Merrikh 2-1 on the road.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 2; GD: +6; PTS: 6)
2. Al-Hilal Omdurman (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
3. Al-Merrikh (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. Ferroviario Beira (GP: 2; GD: -5; PTS: 1)



GROUP B:

At Sfax, Tunisia (due to ongoing security concerns in Libya):

Al-Ahli Tripoli of Libya and Egypt's Zamalek battled to a 0-0 draw.



GROUP C:

At Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

Saint George and visiting Esperance de Tunis battled to a 0-0 deadlock.



GROUP D:

At Garoua, Cameroon:

Oluwafemi Junior Ajayi (12') and Momen Zakaria (14') each scored a goal in the opening quarter-hour as Al-Ahly blanked Coton Sport 2-0 on the road.