After a month of emotional broadcasts with the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the CAF Champions League returns this Friday, February 23, 2024. Matchday 5 features three mouth-watering fixtures.
ASEC Mimosas - Simba SC
A few days ago, the Elephants presented the African Cup trophy to the public at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny stadium after Côte d'Ivoire had been crowned champions. Now it's the turn of ASEC Mimosas players to ride the national team's wave in the CAF CL. And the adventure is off to a great start. Leading Group B with 10 points, the Ivorian club has already fulfilled its first mission, which is to qualify for the quarter-finals. The next is to consolidate their top spot, despite the departure of prodigy Sankara Karamoko, who recently joined Austrian club Wolfsberg. With no first-team appearances to his name, the 20-year-old striker made 4 starts and scored 4 goals. He leaves this competition as top scorer after 5 matches. However, ASEC Mimosas will have to do without him and take advantage of the excitement of the AFCON and the euphoria of the title win to draw a crowd to the "Felicia".
Opposite them, Simba arrive in Abidjan with the ambition of taking advantage of their position (2nd, 5 points) to take an option on qualification. With Wydad (4th, 3 points), who have made a poor start to their CAF CL campaign, and Jwaneng Galaxy FC (3rd, 4 points) looming, the Tanzanians will be well advised to try and get a good result in their clash with ASEC. And victory would do them even more good.
Medeama - Al Ahly
Favourites in Group D, Al Ahly (1st, 6 points) assume their status by being in the driving seat. The Cairo-based club will face the trip to Ghana with the return of South African striker Percy Tau. The Egyptian giants will have all the firepower they need to seal qualification for good if they win. In the first leg, Al Ahly outclassed Medeama (3-0). They intend to assert their superiority. Optimism is not hovering over the Ghanaian club. Struggling in the league and bottom of their CAF CL group, Medeama (4th, 4 points) must pull off a feat to stay alive in this continental campaign.
Al Hilal - Petro de Luanda
A little effort to secure qualification. Petro de Luanda are having a fine season.With 8 points at the top of Group C, the Angolans are moving forward without looking in the rear-view mirror. Since the start of the season, Petro de Luanda have lost just once in all competitions, and that was in the African Football League (2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns). This unbeaten record makes them a formidable team. If the attack is far from being a thunderbolt, with only 3 goals scored, it's the defense that is the team's strongest link.No goals conceded in 4 CAF CL matches. Al Hilal have been warned.
The Sudanese club (4th, 4 points) is struggling to find its cruising speed. Still in the race for qualification, they already have their backs against the wall in front of their home fans this Friday. Victory is essential to gain points and places ahead of the final day of the group phase, in a bid to secure a ticket to the quarter-finals.
