CAF Champions League Draw Serves Up A Treat

The draw for the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League has served up a treat for African football fans. There are four fabulous ties to be played over two legs with a rare Southern Africa derby in the mix.

As always, there are a couple of gigantic North African derbies, including Al Ahly versus Raja Casablanca which should be a sizzler. The two giants of African football have multiple CAF Champions League trophies between them.

ES Setif and Esperance de Tunis will play both their quarterfinal legs without any fans. Despite stadiums being opened, both Tunisian clubs are currently serving CAF sanctions after fans’ trouble at previous matches. Nonetheless, it promises to be a mouthwatering encounter.

The rejuvenated CR Belouizdad welcomes Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of the third quarterfinal drawn out of the bowl. Wydad will fancy a berth in semis, but this is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Southern Africa can rejoice in the fact that at least one of their clubs will be in the semifinal. Angola’s high-flying Petro Atletico de Luanda will meet 2016 CAF Champions League winners, Mamelodi Sundowns. Sundowns can rejoice in the fact that they will make a much shorter trip for a Champions League knockout match this season.

The dominance of North Africa continues with six of the eight teams coming from the region.

THE DRAW:

AL AHLY vs RAJA CASABLANCA

ES SETIF vs ESPERANCE DE TUNIS

CR BELOUIZDAD vs WYDAD CASABLANCA

PETRO ATLETICO DE LUANDA vs MAMELODI SUNDOWNS