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Reigning champions Wydad Casablanca are among the eight sides to have confirmed their places, alongside record holders Al Ahly.
The quarter-finals of the 2022/23 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League are shaping up to be a thrilling affair, with a number of top teams vying for the coveted title.
Reigning champions Wydad Casablanca are among the eight sides to have confirmed their places, alongside record holders Al Ahly.
Joining them in the quarter-finals are their city rivals Raja, Tanzanian side Simba, Algerian teams JS Kabylie and Belouizdad, Esperance of Tunisia, and South African club Mamelodi Sundowns. Here's how the eight teams progressed from their groups:
In Group A, defending champions Wydad Athletic and Algeria's JS Kabylie qualified for the quarter-finals ahead of their meeting on match day six.
With both teams level on 10 points, the game was all about deciding who would top the group. Wydad secured top spot with 13 points following a final day 3-0 defeat to JS Kabylie.
Bouly Junior Sambou scored a double inside the opening 60 minutes of the game, with Zouheir El Moutaraji adding a third to ensure Qydad reach the knockout round for a ninth consecutive time.
Group B was the only group undecided heading into the final match day, as Al Ahly and Sudan's Al Hilal battled for the remaining spot.
The game mirred in drama that started from their earlier meeting in Sudan in February, eventually saw Ahly secure second place on goal difference.
The Red Devils secured their place in the quarter-finals after beating Hilal 3-0 at home in Cairo, with goals from Mahmoud Kahraba and Hussein El Shahat’s double.
Denis Onyango’s Mamelodi Sundowns finished top of the group with 14 points. courtesy of Nassir Ahmed’s brace and Marie Mekong’s own goal.
In Group C, Raja Club Athletic and Simba SC finished first and second respectively after dominating the group that also had Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC.
Raja beat Simba 3-1 in the final group match, with the result ensuring their unbeaten run in this season's competition remained intact.
Raja finished with 16 points, while Simba finished with nine. AC Horoya’s 2-0 victory over Vipers on Friday only gave them a semblance of respect as they finished with seven points.
Finally, in Group D, Esperance and CR Belouizdad qualified ahead of the last match of the group.
The two sides met in Rades, and the match ended in a goalless draw. Esperance secured top spot with 11 points, while Belouizdad finished second with 10.
The draw for the quarter-finals will take place in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, and will be broadcast live on CAF digital platforms and TV partners.
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