The race for a place in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 remains wide open ahead of this weekend’s decisive quarter-final second-leg fixtures.
Sunday’s first-leg encounters delivered drama across the continent, with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns the only side to take firm control of their tie. Sundowns produced the standout performance, defeating Mali’s Stade Malien 3-0 in Pretoria to move closer to a third successive semi-final appearance.
Despite the heavy defeat, Stade Malien will look to mount a response on home soil when they host the return leg on Saturday.
Elsewhere, defending champions Pyramids FC secured a valuable 1-1 draw away to Morocco’s AS FAR in Rabat. The result leaves the tie finely balanced heading into Friday’s return fixture in Cairo.
Another evenly matched contest saw RS Berkane of Morocco held to a 1-1 draw at home by Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman. With the second leg set for a neutral venue, both sides remain firmly in contention.
In one of African football’s most storied rivalries, Esperance Sportive de Tunis claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over record champions Al Ahly in Rades. The result gives the Tunisian side a slight edge, but Al Ahly will take confidence from their strong home record ahead of the return leg in Cairo.
The second-leg fixtures, scheduled for 21 and 22 March, will determine the semi-final line-up, with three of the four ties still delicately poised.
With Sundowns holding a commanding advantage and the remaining fixtures finely balanced, anticipation is building for another gripping chapter in Africa’s premier club competition.
Fixtures (GMT+1)
Friday, 21 March
17:00 – Pyramids FC vs AS FAR
20:00 – Al Ahly vs Esperance Sportive de Tunis
Saturday, 22 March
17:00 – Al Hilal Omdurman vs RS Berkane
17:00 – Stade Malien vs Mamelodi Sundowns
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