•Dates for the matches
•First Leg – March 29 & 30, 2024
•Second Leg – April 5 & 6, 2024
1. Simba SC v Al Ahly
This is the stage where Al Ahly always charges up. In a fixture against Simba SC with the second leg to be played in Cairo, Al Ahly is the favourite with no two ways about that. Fresh from lifting the Egyptian Cup, Marcel Koller’s side is beginning to find their rhythm after the 2023 AFCON even though Belouizdad, Medeama and Yanga have all threatened to deal with the Red Devils.
Malien midfielder Aliou Dieng is out for 2 months but fully fit Emam Ashour, Percy Tau, El Solia and Maaloul will give Simba a tough time.
Simba SC on the other hand are little by little becoming a great side in the CAF Champions League as they thrased Jwaneng Galaxy 6-0. The Tanzanians scored the most goals (9) in the group stage alongside their rivals Yanga.
Abdelkader Benchikha’s Simba SC is closing the gap against the big boys as they demonstrated against Al Ahly when they drew 3-3 on aggregate in the African Football League quarter-finals.
A tight affair is expected in the two-legged affair with Ahly the favourite but Simba cannot be entirely written off.
Prediction: Al Ahly to qualify
2. TP Mazembe v Petro Atletico
The Congolese giants finished second in Group A after the 1-0 defeat in South Africa against Sundowns. Lamine Ndiaye’s TP Mazembe has been playing like the real TP Mazembe in the current season and they have been scoring and winning for fun. Aside from the immense experience they have in Club football on the continent, TP Mazembe is enjoying the moment.
Petro Luanda played the entire group stage without conceding a single goal which is a record in the history of the CAF Champions League The Angolans are a formidable side that no one can underrate. Os Tricolores faced Esperance, Al Hilal and Etoile du Sahel in the Group Stage but did not taste a single defeat.
This is a fixture that 180 minutes only can decide. It’s almost a 50-50 chance for both sides but TP Mazembe’s experience can be crucial in this tie.
Prediction: TO Mazembe to qualify
3. Esperance Tunis v Asec Mimosas
Esperance Tunis is a powerhouse in the CAF Champions League but has not won the competition since the 2018-19 season. Tarek Thabet’s side has shown the potential to lift their fifth trophy with some excellent displays in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 and the CAF Champions League. With the Brazillian duo of Yann Sasse and Rodrigo Rodrigues in attack and Yassine Meriah and Amine Tougai at the back, Esperance will be a tough test for The Mimos of Ivory Coast.
Asec Mimosas topped Group B and showed how organised they were in the group. Under the tutelage of the 47-year-old French tactician Julien Chevalier, Esperance will face a young and energetic side in Asec Mimosas.
Prediction: Esperance Tunis to qualify
4. Young Africans v Mamelodi Sundowns
My biggest game of the quarter-finals is Yanga against the Brazilians from Pretoria, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Miguel Angel Garmondi’s smash-and-grab approach to games v Rulani Mokwena’s patient build will be an exciting affair. Young African’s 4-0 thrashing of Bouizdad was probably the best performance in their history in the CAF interclub competitions. Runner-up of last season’s Confederation Cup, Yanga have improved their performance with Pacome Zouzoua, Ki Aziz, and Kouassi Attohoula all joining from Asec Mimosas with wonderful talents and are playing their best football. Kennedy Musonda, Yahya Mudathir and Djigui Diara have all up their games under the Argentine manager. Ghanaian forward Augustine Okrah is another weapon in Yanga’s team. Their rise to the top of African football is something incredible as no one must take them for granted.
Mamelodi Sundowns need no introduction because they’re simply the best or second-best team on the continent. Their squad represented Bafana Bafana at the 2023 AFCON and did not fail to impress. They remain one of the favourites for the competition but they have to deal with Yanga first.
Their Tiki-Taka has been perfected since Rulani took full control of the team. Peter Shalulile, Themba Zwane and Lucas Costa are ready to win Sundowns their second CCL trophy.
Predictions: Mamelodi Sundowns to qualify.
