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The CAF Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draws, conducted in Cairo on Tuesday, have set the stage for a dramatic knockout phase.
Former champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa find themselves pitted against the tournament’s “surprise package,” Stade Malien.
The Malian side reached the group stage for the first time after 19 failed attempts and proceeded to stun the continent by topping a group that included four-time winners Esperance.
Sundowns, meanwhile, narrowly secured their passage thanks to final-round heroics from Colombian forward Brayan Leon.
Defending champions Pyramids of Egypt are scheduled for a high-stakes rematch against Morocco’s FAR Rabat.
Pyramids have emerged as the team to beat this season, boasting the most impressive record with eight wins and two draws, despite a scoring drought from last season’s top marksman, Mahmoud Mayele.
In another highlight of the draw, 12-time record champions Al Ahly will resume their long-standing continental rivalry with Tunisia’s Esperance, who enter the fray under the new guidance of French tactician Patrice Beaumelle.
The final quarter-final matchup features Moroccan debutants Renaissance Berkane against Sudanese giants Al Hilal.
While Berkane are making their first deep run in the premier competition, Al Hilal are celebrating a record-extending 39th appearance.
Due to the ongoing civil war in Sudan, Al Hilal will continue to play their home matches on neutral ground, hosting the second leg of this tie in Rwanda. Berkane entered the round as the only survivor to have lost two group games, conceding a tournament-high 10 goals.
The quarter-final first legs are set for March 13-14, with the return matches following a week later.
The path to the final in May is now clearly defined: the winner of the Al Ahly and Esperance clash will meet either Sundowns or Stade Malien in the semi-finals, while the victor of the Pyramids and FAR Rabat game will face either Berkane or Al Hilal.
With several unbeaten heavyweights and ambitious newcomers in the mix, the race for Africa’s most prestigious club trophy remains wide open.
