Simba, Yanga discover their Inter Club quarters opponents

• Tanzania’s Simba and Yanga are the only East African reps
• Simba face holders Wydad in the Champions League
• Yanga face Nigeria’s Rivers United in the Confederation Cup

Tanzanian giants Yanga and Simba SC have discovered their opponents for the CAF Inter Club competitions after the quarter final draw was conducted in Cairo.

Simba have been handed a massively tough draw against defending champions Wydad Athletic Club in the Champions League, while Yanga have been drawn against Nigeria’s Rivers United in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Simba are scheduled to host the first leg tie in Dar es Salaam, before traveling to Casablanca for the return duel. Simba will be familiar with the surroundings in Casablanca, as they face off with Wydad’s arch-nemesis Raja in the group stages, losing 3-1.

The last meeting between these two sides was in the 2011 season in a special play-off match, Wydad winning 3-0.

Meanwhile, record champions Al Ahly and Morocco’s Raja Casablanca face off in the first quarter-final tie, and the two will duel for a second consecutive season. The two North African giants also faced off at the same stage last season with the Egyptians winning 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-1 victory at home and a 1-1 draw in Casablanca.

Raja, who are unbeaten in the competition this season, will be out to exact revenge on Ahly, who squeezed through to the last eight on the last day of the group stages.

Ahly will host the first leg in Cairo.

Sundowns take on Belouizdad

In other fixtures, 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns will continue their campaign for a second title with the first leg of their quarter final in Algeria against CR Belouizdad.

Another Algerian side, JS Kabylie, will host Esperance of Tunisia in the first leg of the fourth quarter final duel, another enticing North African duel.

The quarter-finals are scheduled for the weekend of April 21-22 and the return fixtures a week later.

The semis will be played on May 12-13 with the second leg a week later.

Meanwhile in the CAF Confederation Cup, a North African derby pitting Algeria’s USM Alger and Morocco’s AS FAR, will be the highlight of the last eight fixtures.

Yanga celebrate during a past match. PHOTO/Yanga

FAR is the only team in the last eight which has previously won the competition, having been crowned champions in 2005. This was also the first time that the Moroccans were making it into the group stages since the 2006 season.

They continue their campaign for one more continental piece of silverware with the first leg being a trip to Algiers.

Meanwhile, Pyramids FC, finalists of the 2019-20 season have been drawn against debutants Marumo Gallants of South Africa, and the Egyptians start the first leg at home in Cairo.

At the same time, 1998 Champions Asec Mimosas will continue with their ambition for another title, and have been paired against Tunisian side US Monastir, and will start with the first leg away from home.

Full CAF Champions League Draw

QF1. Simba SC vs Wydad Athletic

QF2. Al Ahly vs Raja Club Atjletic

QF3. CR Belouizdad vs Mamelodi Sundowns

QF4. JS Kabylie vs Esperance du Tunis

Semi finals

QF4 vs QF2

QF1 vs QF3

Full CAF Confederation Cup Draw

QF 1. Pyramids FC vs Marumo Gallants

QF 2. US Monastir vs Asec Mimosas

QF 3. USM Alger vs AS FAR

QF 4. Rivers United vs Yanga

Semi-finals

QF4 vs QF1

QF2 vs QF3