The 5th day of the group stage of the Champions League was played ON Saturday, March 18. The bus to carry the qualifiers to the quarterfinals continues to fill up. Simba SC, by crushing Horaya (7-0) gets its ticket. Wydad and JS Kabylie will also travel. However, Al Hilal missed the opportunity and will have to offer a final on the last day against Al Ahly.
Al Hilal will have to wait
The stakes were clear. Only a win and the Sudanese club would be qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions League. By hosting the leader of group B, Mamelodi Sundowns for the 5th day, Al Hilal had no right to error. The South Africans dominated the first half without scoring. But at the resumption, the players of Mokwena exploded the lock of Sudanese thanks to Khuliso Mudau (0-1, 67th). But five minutes later, Ali Aburahmane sounded the revolt by equalizing (72nd, 1-1). In front of their home crowd, Al Hilal put the pressure on until they got a decisive penalty in the 92nd minute. But Eltahir missed the opportunity to send his club in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. A joker burned and that makes the last day of the group stages a final for Al Hilal (2nd, 10 pts). With the victory of Al Ahly (3rd, 7 pts) against Coton Sport (4-0) this Friday, the great Egyptian club can believe in the miracle by receiving the Sudanese. A clash that promises to be explosive with Al Hilal who will need only a point to qualify.
Simba joins Raja in the quarter
Group C has given its final verdict. Raja Casablanca (1st, 13 pts) and Simba (2nd, 9 pts) are qualified for the quarterfinals. The Moroccan club played to seal its place as leader in this group and the objective is achieved. On the field of the last of the class, Vipers (4th, 2 pts), Soufiane Benjdida opens the score (0-1, 18th) for the Moroccans. But the Ugandans equalized through Abubakar Lawal (1-1, 45th).
To see goals, you had to be in Tanzania. The club Horoya (3rd, 4 pts) may not forget this afternoon of March 18. 7-0. A huge score and that should leave traces. Eliminated, the Guinean club fails. On the other hand, Simba has regaled its public. In addition to its ticket to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, the club has shown its offensive power with the goals of Chama (10th, 36th, 70th), Othos (32nd and 65th) and Kanouté (54th, 87th).
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS:
Nothing but goals in @SimbaSCTanzania's SEVEN-goal-win over @HACofficiel! 🔥#TotalEnergiesCAFCL | #SSCHAC | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/coshLwFbDY
— TotalEnergies CAFCL - TotalEnergies CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) March 18, 2023
Wydad and JS Kabylie ensure the essential
A single point is enough to participate in the next round. Wydad was satisfied with a draw against Vita Club (0-0). Leader of group A, the defending champion had started this campaign very badly with a defeat and a change of coach. Since then, it has reached the end of the tunnel by closing this 5th day at the top of the group with 10 points.
JS Kabylie also reached its goal. In front of its public, the Algerian club put an end to the suspense by securing its qualification for the quarterfinals of the Champions League. JS Kabylie (2nd, 10 pts) eliminates Petro de Luanda (4th, 4 pts) by winning against the Angolan club on a goal by Dadi Mouaki (1-0, 90th). This victory also allows the Algerians to hope to fight to finish at the top of Group A in the last day against Wydad, .
