CAF Champions League – Quarterfinal schedule, semifinal and final dates; defending champion Al Ahly to face Al Hilal
CAF Champions League – Quarterfinal schedule, semifinal and final dates; defending champion Al Ahly to face Al Hilal
Holder Al Ahly of Egypt will continue the defence of its African Champions League title with a quarterfinal tie against Al Hilal from neighbouring Sudan after the draw conducted in Qatar on Thursday.
The pairing is a boost for Ahly, which was unconvincing in the group phase and finished second in its section. However, it has a long history of dominance over Sudanese opposition.
The civil war in Sudan means Al Hilal has moved the club to Mauritania, where it is guest competitor in the local league and will host the second leg of its quarterfinal in Nouakchott on either April 8-9.
The draw, featuring six north African clubs and two from South Africa, had Tunisia’s Esperance and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns paired together in a repeat of last season’s semifinal which Esperance won 2-0 on aggregate.
It was coached in that match by Portuguese Miguel Cardoso, who has since joined Sundowns, the club owned by the family of Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe.
