Esperance Tunis – Al Ahly and Wydad-Mamelodi. The first leg semi-finals of the African Champions League, which are played on Friday and Saturday, will pit four clubs crowned in the last 7 editions.
The best of African club football will happen over the next two days and in a week, for the return matches. Semi-finals which bring together the winners of the last seven editions. CAF could not have dreamed of better, nor could the followers.
This Friday at 7 p.m. UT, Espérance de Tunis welcomes Al Ahly for the clash between regulars from the high spheres of football, African clubs. But the Tunisians will have to do without their supporters after the suspension of the Radés stadium following the incidents during the quarter-final against JS Kabylie.
The match remains open between two teams who have won the trophy twice in the last five years. The Tunisians in 2018 and 2019, the Egyptians, in 2020 and 2021. The latter are used to victory in C1 since they have already won the Cup 10 times, a record, and played 15 finals, including the last three. This is the third time the two clubs have faced each other in the Champions League semi-finals and Al Ahly lead by two wins to one.
The precious Bouly Sambou
Unlike previous years, the two formations have not been imperial during their careers. The Egyptians even had to wait until the last day of the group stage to snatch their qualification in the quarter-finals. It has been less stressful for the Tunisians, but Maloul’s men are conspicuous by their attacking inefficiency with only 10 goals scored in 10 matches since the start of their C1 campaign.
In the second semi-final, Wydad, defending champion, remains armed to repeat its feat accomplished under the orders of the current coach of Morocco, Walid Regragui. The Casablanca club finds the Mamelodi Sundowns, whom they have already met 10 times, but it will only be the second time in the semi-finals after 2019. If they no longer have Regragui, the players of Wydad, who play at the stadium Mohamed-V, have Junior Bouly Sambou, a powerful, fast striker and above all a scorer. The 24-year-old Senegalese is currently leading the best fireworks in the Champions League with 7 achievements.
For Sundowns, the last sub-Saharan African club to win the trophy (2016), the mission is far from impossible. The South Africans can count on their captain and guide Themba Zwane, the only player who was present when Mamelodi was crowned seven years ago.
The program for the semi-finals (TU)
Friday May 12
Esperance Tunis (TUN) – Al Ahly (EGY) 7 p.m.
Saturday May 13
Wydad Casablanca (MAR) – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) 7 p.m.