Egyptian giants Al Ahly will face a stern test in their quest to defend their CAF Champions League title after they were drawn to face Raja Casablanca of Morocco in the quarterfinals.
The tie will be a rematch of the CAF Super Cup match in December last year which the Egyptian side won 6-5 on penalties after the game had ended 1-1.
Should the record 10-time champions overcome Raja, who won the CAF Confederation Cup last year, another acid test for Pitso Mosimane and his charges looms in the last four.
Al Ahly could then face either four-time winners Espérance Tunis of Tunisia or Algerian side ES Setif who, themselves, have been crowned African champions on two previous occasions, in 1988 and 2014.
While a lot of focus will, inevitably, be on Al Ahly, Raja will go into the game aiming to capitalise on their defensive solidity and take advantage of their opponents’ struggles in the tournament.
The three-time African champions conceded the joint fewest goals in the group phase (two) together with Mamelodi Sundowns and Espérance Tunis.
In the other quarterfinals, South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns will play Angola’s Petro Atletico while another Algerian side CR Belouizdad will take on two-time winners Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.
While Sundowns’ tie against Petro Atletico is not a foregone conclusion, the South Africans, who won the competition in 2016, will be favourites to advance to the semifinals. Sundowns have been in imperious form this season finishing the group stage unbeaten and even defeating Al Ahly both home and away.
If they progress further, Sundowns will have greater confidence in playing in North Africa having being boosted by their success away to Al Ahly in the group stage.
On the other hand, Wydad Athletic Club will also fancy their chances of going all the way to the final backed by their attacking strength which saw them net 15 goals in the group stage, the highest number of goals scored by a single team in the group phase.
(Story compiled with assistance from wire reports)
