Tunisia’s Étoile du Sahel set up a combustible semi-final tie against eight-time winners Al-Ahly, as champions Mamelodi Sundowns crashed out of the 2017 CAF Champions League.
Review of the quarter-final matches:
In Sousse, two well taken goals from Egyptian striker Amr Marey in the 16th & 46th minute was all Étoile du Sahel needed to see off Libya’s Al-Ahli (2-0) on aggregate.
At the Stade Olympique de Radès, the tie of the round produced the expected spectacle. Espérance with the slight advantage after holding off (2-2) in the first leg got off to a flying start when Taha Yassine Khenissi converted a 40th minute penalty which sent fans present into a frenzy. Unfortunately for the locals, Tunisian Ali Maâloul defender of Al-Ahly made it 1-1 in the 50th minute, before Nigeria’s Oluwafemi Ajayi ensured a (4-3) aggregate score for the Egyptians with a 62nd minute strike.
USM Alger progressed to the semi-final thanks to Darfalou first leg goal against Ferroviário Beira in Mozambique which ended (1-1) after both teams uncharacteristically settled for a goalless score in Algiers.
Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns failed in their quest to join the few teams who have as part of their history the tag of successfully defending the CAF Champions League after losing 3-2 on penalties to Moroccan team Wydad Casablanca in tade Prince Moulay Abdallah. The South Africans lost 1-0, which made the aggregate score locked at 1-1, but penalty misses from Percy Tau, Yannick Zakri and Bangaly Soumahoro sealed their fate and brightened Wydad’s hope for continental success.
Semi Final Fixtures:
- Étoile du Sahel Tunisia vs Egypt Al-Ahly
- Al-Ahly Egypt vs Tunisia Étoile du Sahel
The winners of the 2017 CAF Champions League will qualify as the CAF representative at the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, and also earn the right to play against the winners of the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup in the 2018 CAF Super Cup.
