By Adelani Ogunrinade
The biggest headlines of the week in African Football came from Cairo, Egypt where the mouth-watering quarter-final clashes that loom in the CAF Champions League and the Confederations Cup was announced. These are the games to watch out for and my predictions.
In the CAF Champions league:
Title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt to meet Simba of Tanzania
The two sides met earlier this year in the African Football league earlier on in the year. In that heated exchange, Al Ahly advanced thanks to away goal rules after two draws. Fresh off winning the Egypt Cup victory which took place in Saudi Arabia, Al Ahly are always one of the favourites in this competition.
Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns are still the top two sides in Africa in my opinion. Simba have a lot of experience in their ranks and have defended well in this competition.
Prediction: A 2 – 1 win for Al Ahly of Egypt
TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo face Petro Luanda of Angola
2022 semi-finalists, Petro Luanda are an interesting side. They have signed great foreign players like Jonathan Toro of Honduras and Tiago Lima Leal from Brazil who blended in beautifully with local talents like Gilberto and Anderson Cruz. They are the only side not to have conceded any goals in the Champions League so far and have only conceded 5 goals in their local league. They are very organized in defence.
TP Mazembe however is a very intimidating ground to go to. They have only conceded two goals in the group stages. Congo’s exploits in the African Nations Cup suggests Congolese football is on an upward rise.
This is one of the toughest games to predict.
Prediction: A 4-3 penalty shootout win for TP Mazembe
Esperance of Tunisia to meet ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast
The 1999 Super Cup final clash that featured 1998 CAF Champions League winners, ASEC Mimosas golden generation of stars, and 1998 African Cup Winners’, Espérance, at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire is an African Football classic.
25 years later, the Tunisian side are given an opportunity to avenge the extra time heartbreak of that final but can the Blood and Gold of Tunis break through the solid defensive wall unit of Wonlo Coulibaly and Anthony Tra Bi Tra?! Will the absence of Sankara Karamoko be felt by ASEC?!
I believe that Esperance perhaps have a little too much quality for Asec Mimosa with players like Rodrigo Rodrigues and Yan Sasse in their ranks.
Prediction: A 2-1 win for Esperance of Tunisia.
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns were paired with Young Africans of Tanzania
The PSL table toppers, Sundowns are looking for their first title in eight years. Sundowns squad depth is astonishing! Despite their opponents being a dangerous offensive side, they are not so good defensively. They scored 9 goals and conceded 7 in the group stages.
Sundowns is likely to be too hot for this Young African side!
Prediction: A 4-1 win for South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
Check out the link below for my Confederations Cup predictions:
Fut-Afrique: This Show Looks at the CAF Champions League 2024 (Part Two)