Article by Adelani Ogunrinade
The crucial second leg ties of the quarter-final phase of the CAF Champions League kicked off in various African cities over the weekend. Four teams were eliminated while four others still harbor dreams of continental glory!
With only one goal scored after the first legs, I was hoping to see more exciting action in the second leg of these remarkable games, and I got what I was looking for!!!!
This article is a brief summary of the four quarter-final clashes we witnessed over the weekend, where football lovers on the continent were treated to two penalty shoot-outs and late goal drama.
TP Mazembe and Al Ahly deliver devastating late blows
In the first leg in Lubumbashi, the likes of Phillipe Kinzumbi, Fily Traore and Joel Beya of TP Mazembe failed to find a solution to Os Tricolores rock solid defence. The goalless draw solidified Petro de Luanda’s status as the best defensive side at this year’s competition.
In the second leg of the tie in Angola, Jonathan Toro scored in the 29th minute for the home side. The decisive moments of this intense match came late in the game when Phillipe Kinzumbi scored in the 82nd minute. Petro de Luanda poured men forward in search of a match winner.TP Mazembe did a great job of soaking up the pressure and then counter-attacking which led to a dramatic goal by Joel Beya in the dying minutes.
This defeat was Petro de Luanda’s first loss in any competitive competition since October 2023.TP Mazembe now switch their focus to a semi-final clash with African football giants, Al Ahly. The Egyptians beat Simba 2-0 at the Cairo International Stadium. Goals by Amir El Solia and Kahraba in the dying minutes of the match officially killed off Simba’s chances of progressing to the next phase of the competition.
Asec Mimosa and Yanga lose Penalty shoot-out war
There were more dramatic scenes at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in AbidjanThe second leg clash between Asec Mimosa and Esperance de Tunis ended goalless yet again. With both teams playing very similar 4-3-3 tactical systems, the match always had the promise of an evenly poised African Champions League classic. The goalless score line after 90 minutes meant both teams subjected their fans to the heart ache of a penalty shoot-out. Inexperienced 19-year-old goalkeeper, Amanallah Memmiche was the star of the show as his three penalty saves was crucial to Asec Mimosa being eliminated from the tournament.
The previous day, Esperance de Tunis’s semi-final opponents Mamelodi Sundowns survived a scare against Yanga in Loftus stadium, Pretoria. Despite dominating possession in both the first and second legs of this tie, the Brazilians of Sundowns were struggling to unlock Yanga’s disciplined defence. The Young Africans of Tanzania made sure that there were no spaces behind their defence or between the lines, which frustrated Coach Rhulani Mokwena and his star-studded side.
The big moment of controversy came in the 58th minute where Stephane Aziz Ki’s 59th-minute rocket appeared to have crossed the line and should have counted. The goal denied to Young Africans against Mamelodi Sundowns will divide opinion on the continent for years to come. Ronwen Williams retained his reputation as a penalty specialist after saving two spot kicks to book Masandawana’s place in the semi-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Miguel Ángel Gamondi brave Young Africans side.
Final Thoughts
These quarter-final clashes were more evidence that African football is making significant strides but more still needs to be done to improve the quality of the football on the continent. Football enthusiasts in Tanzania will undoubtedly feel robbed after the weekend’s football fiesta in the CAF Champions League. In the Yanga case, it was really difficult to tell if the ball had completely crossed the line – It seemed like it, but can we say 100%? And should Simba have been awarded a penalty against Al Ahly?!
There is undoubtedly a glaring need for better goal-line technology on the continent. Other than that, Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, TP Mazembe and Esperance de Tunis have shown the world that African football is on it’s way.
Article Image Courtesy of CAF – https://www.cafonline.com/