CAF CL: Semi final fixtures
African football enters the heart of the matter this weekend. The first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-finals is set to ignite the continent with expected shocks: a Moroccan clash between AS FAR and RS Berkane, and an enticing duel between two African monsters, Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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This Saturday in Rabat, the Moroccan duel between AS FAR and RS Berkane promises an anthology poster. The two clubs embody two fascinating trajectories: on one side AS FAR, the first Moroccan club to have won the CAF Champions League in 1985, a title that remains to this day their only continental crown in this competition. The military therefore seeks to regain their former glory on the main African stage.
While on the other side, RS Berkane plays its first ever semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, she who has so far distinguished herself in the Confederation Cup. Winner of this competition in 2020 and 2022, the RSB continues to establish itself as one of the most formidable teams on the continent. The fratricidal duel therefore promises to create sparks.
Nevertheless, for Moroccan football, one certainty remains: the Kingdom will be represented in the final of the Champions League for the third time over the last five editions. Wydad played in the last two Moroccan finals in 2022 (victory) and 2023 (defeat).
XXL Clash
Sunday evening in Rades, the Espérance Sportive of Tunis receives Mamelodi Sundowns in the other clash of these semi-finals. L'EST has won the CAF Champions League four times (1994, 2011, 2018 and 2019), making it one of the most successful teams in the tournament (4th overall).
On the other hand, Mamelodi Sundowns won the competition in 2016, becoming the second South African club crowned champion of Africa after the Orlando Pirates (1995). Since then, the Brazilians of Pretoria have established themselves as one of the most consistent teams on the continent in this competition, notably with a final played last season (defeat against Pyramides FC of Egypt).
The Tunisian Sang and Or, in their lair of Radès, will want to capitalize on the advantage of the ground to get away from this duel of prestige, while their opponents will try to preserve their chances before the return round.
The complete program (GMT time)
Saturday, April 11
7 p.m.: AS FAR - RS Berkane
Sunday, April 12
19 h: Espérance Tunis - Mamelodi Sundowns