The 2022/23 TotalEnergies Caf Champions League produced goals and thrills as Africa’s best sides faced off for better results in the first legs of the quarterfinals.
It began on Friday with Esperance de Tunis travelling to JS Kabylie and the Black and Gold got a positive advantage.
Kabylie – Esperance
Mohammed Ali Ben Hammouda’s goal in the 54th minute was enough for the Tunisians who host Kabylie in the second leg.
Esperance had last lost 1-0 against the Algerians in the 2019/20 Caf Champions League group stages. A good victory.
⏱ FT | #TotalEnergiesCAFCL 1/4 final #JSKEST | 🇩🇿@jsk_tweet 0⃣-1⃣ @ESTuniscom🇹🇳 : End of the match / نهاية المباراة / Fin du match pic.twitter.com/VbzDYiTqGM
— Espérance de Tunis ❤️💛 الترجي التونسي (@ESTuniscom) April 21, 2023
Simba – Wydad
Tanzanian giants Simba Sc got off to a good start by overcoming Wydad AC 1-0 on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Top marksman Jean Othos Baleke scored in the 30th minute and the Reds will have the second leg in against a strong Wydad back in Morocco.
The Red Castle have won all four Champions League games at home this season including a 6-0 drubbing of Rivers United in the qualifiers.
Full Time.#TotalEnergiesCAFCL #WenyeNchi #NguvuMoja pic.twitter.com/odnDpMC9kC
— Simba SC Tanzania English (@SimbaSC_EN) April 22, 2023
Belouizdad – Sundowns
South Africans Mamelodi Sundowns made light work of CR Beloiuzdad in Algeria.
Masandawana downed their opponents at their own backyard with an emphatic 4-1 victory with Peter Shalulile scoring a brace.
The Namibian broke the deadlock in the 6th minute.
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀!
Congratulations 👏to our Namibian goalscoring powerhouse Peter Shalulile on reaching 1⃣0⃣0⃣ Career Club Goals! 👆#Sundowns #DownsLive #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/Eu890TM2Aj
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) April 22, 2023
Neo Maema then added the second in the 20th minute.
Miloud Rebiai pulled a goal back for Beloiuzdad in the 48th minute of additional time to end the first half.
After the break, Shalulile extended the lead to 3-1 with a 51st minute strike and Cassius Mailula capped off a brilliant display with the fourth goal in the 92nd minute.
Huge task for Beloiuzdad in the second leg to be played in South Africa.
Ahly – Raja
The last quarterfinal clash was between Al Ahly and Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca.
The Egyptians won 2-0 at the packed Cairo International Stadium with goals from Mohammed Abdelmoneim 47th minute of first half added time.
Hamdy Fathy scored the second goal of the evening in the 84th minute.
Raja will have to overturn the 2-0 deficit in Morocco.
Amazing support 👏 pic.twitter.com/931hb2ruLn
— Al Ahly SC 🇬🇧 (@AlAhlyEnglish) April 22, 2023
The second legs of the quarterfinals will be played on the 28th and 29th of April.
