Seven strong contenders have joined title holders Ahly in the quarter-finals as the CAF Champions League entered an exciting, mouth-watering knock-out stage.

Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis laboured hard to secure a quarter-final berth on Saturday to complete the list of the top eight teams competing for the trophy.

Playing at home, the Tunisians managed a 1-0 victory against Al Hilal SC in a highly competitive match.

Five former champions are among the teams that secured their place in the quarter-finals, as two teams from Tanzania, Simba and Young Africans, made it to the last eight.

Three of the eight teams that have officially booked their places have yet to taste continental success. Al Ahly, TP Mazembe, Esperance, Asec Mimosas, and Mamelodi Sundowns have all previously lifted Africa’s most coveted club football trophy.

Defending champions and Egyptian giants Al Ahly remain on course for their title defence after a 1-0 home victory over Young Africans on Friday to finish top of Group D with 12 points.

The Tanzanians clinched second place in the group despite losing the game in Cairo, even though Belouizdad defeated Medeama 3-0 in the group’s other match.

Sundowns secured Group A’s top spot with 13 points after defeating TP Mazembe 1-0 in Pretoria on Saturday, but the visiting side also advanced after finishing second with ten points.

Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas topped Group B with 11 points despite losing away to former champions Wydad Casablanca, whICH crashed out following Simba’s 6-0 win over Jwaneng Galaxy in the group’s other game on Saturday.

Simba were equal on nine points with Wydad but advanced thanks to their better record.

Angola’s Petro de Luanda and Tunisia’s Esperance qualified for the quarter-finals from Group C following their victories on Saturday.

Petro de Luanda finished top of the group with 12 points after their 2-0 win over Etoile du Sahel, while Esperance’s 1-0 victory over Al Hilal helped them to secure second place with 11 points.

CAF will announce the date for the quarter-final draw in the coming days.

Full list of teams that qualified for quarter-finals

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)

Simba (Tanzania)

Petro de Luanda (Angola)

Esperance (Tunisia)

Al Ahly (Egypt)

Young Africans (Tanzania). 

(NAN)