1. All eyes will be on Dar es Salaam
Massive respect for Tanzania for the relentless effort and investment in their clubs to reach this stage. In sub-Saharan Africa, it used to be Ghana when the money zone commenced in 1997, it then shifted to Ivory Coast, to Zimbabwe, then to South Africa, to Nigeria, to DR Congo and now Tanzania. Dar es Salaam is ready to host probably two of the best sides on the continent on Friday and Saturday. The capital city will be buzzing as it welcomes Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns. Simba on Friday will entertain the defending champions Al Ahly while on Saturday, the Brazillians of Pretoria will battle Yanga in the first leg of the quarter-finals. A trip to Tanzania for your weekend won’t be dull because football will be the king in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.
2. Al Hhly has a huge task to beat Simba at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium
Rwandan international Meddie Kagera’s 65th-minute strike was enough to record Simba’s first-ever win over Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League in 2019 at home. Luis Miquissone’s first-half strike two years later again in the CAF Champions League group stage recorded another win for Simba against Al Ahly. The 2-2 draw in the African Football League in 2023 shows how solid Simba SC is at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. 3 games at home against Al Ahly, no defeat for the Tanzanians. Al Ahly has a difficult task at hand as Simba SC is no longer a minnow. If you dare underrate them, you will be in trouble. Ask Horoya AC and Jwaneng Galaxy. They will brief you on life in Tanzania when playing Simba SC.
3. Sundowns must be wary of Yanga’s West African contingents
Goalkeeper Djigui Diarra (Mali), Stephane Aziz Ki (Burkina Faso), Peodoh Pacome Zouzoua, Attohoula Yao, Guede Gnadou (all Ivory Coast) and Augustine Okrah (Ghana) are super talents that Rulani Mokwena and his lads must watch out for. Pacome Zouzoua is always the link between the attack and the defensive midfield as he has eyes for goals. Aziz Ki is another young talent who can take on defence one-on-one. Augustine Okrah is yet to cement a role in the team but he is a super sub and has enough experience at this level. Djigui Camara is Mali’s number 1 goalkeeper and needs no introduction. Gnadou has had stints with FAR Rabat and hence knows the African terrain while Yao has been regular for Yanga. These are the contingents from West Africa that Sundowns are facing in Tanzania at the weekend. They have what it takes to hurt anyone so Sundowns must be careful.
4. TP Mazembe can beat Petro Luanda
Petro is unbeaten in the CAF Champions League. The Os Tricolores did not concede a single goal in the group stage of the CAF Champions League. It is a record since the Money Zone was introduced in 1997. A trip to Lubumbashi to face TP Mazembe has never been an easy one since the early 1960s. The place is full of troubles as the Congolese know how to play football, how to grind results and how to deal with any opponent. TP Mazembe beat Sundowns in the group stage and it is a huge warning to Petro Luanda. The Angolans on the other hand are a solid team. Their defence is awesome. They have a terrific midfield and an exciting attack. A fierce fixture is expected on Saturday afternoon in DR Congo.
5. Asec Abidjan faces their first test of the CAF Champions League
In Group B, Asec was placed alongside out-of-form Wydad Casablanca, minnows Jwaneng and Simba SC. They qualified alongside Simba and topped the group though but none of their opponents gave them a stern test like what they are going to face in Tunisia on Saturday night. Esperance sent a message to their competitors by beating their arch-rivals Etoile du Sahel home and away even though they did not win the game outside Tunisia. Asec Mimosas must prepare pretty well because their away performance is not encouraging. They have lost four and drawn one in their last 5 away games since beating Jwaneng Galaxy 2-0 in Botswana in the group stage. Power rankings show that Asec Mimosas will probably be the last-rated team in the last 8 left. It is up to them to prove their doubters wrong. Asec Mimosas will need a good result in the first leg to stay in the tie.
