- Only Sundowns are assured of finishing top in their group
- Defending champions Al Ahly only need a point in their last match
- The last round of games will be played after the international break
After the completion of the penultimate round of matches in thegroup phase of the CAF Champions League, seven teams have already assured themselves of a place in the last eight. Only Group A remains to be completed with defending champions Al Ahly and Sudanese Al Hilal set to clash for the single remaining slot on the last match day.
Below is the summary of how match week five went down.
Group A:
Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns are assured of finishing top of the group after thrashing Al Hilal 4-2 in Khartoum. This is despite the South African Premier League side playing from the 11th minute with 10 men after Harambee Stars defender Brian Mandela was sent off.
The victory takes them to 13 points, six ahead of second placed Ahly who were 3-1 winners over AL Merrikh. Heading to the match against Merrikh in Cairo, Ahly were in a must win situation and they did exactly that with two quick goals in the second half sailing them through.
They just need a point in the last match day against Hilal to sail into the last eight. Hilal on the other hand are in a must win situation as they are on four points, third in the standings.
Group B
Raja Club Athletic and ES Setif have already secured tickets to the last eight and heading to the final round of matches, they will only be playing for positional supremacy.
Raja bounced back from the shock 2-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Horoya on Match Day five to beat debutants AmaZulu 2-0 at their backyard in Durban.
But props from the group fall hugely on Setif who conjured a last minute victory over Horoya in Algiers, scoring two goals in the last five minutes to turn out 3-2 winners.
Horoya were leading 2-1 after 87 minutes and looked well on course to keep hope alive, but a red card on star player Morlaye Sylla with 10 minutes left started the collapse as Setif scored in minute 87 and 90+4 by Riad Benayad.
Group C
CR Belouizdad
Tunisia’s Esperance and CR Belouizdad of Algeria delivered victories in the penultimate round to affirm their places in the last eight. Both are on 11 points but Esperance sit top of the group on account of head to head record.
The Tunisian giants were 3-0 victors at home against Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana, condemning the Botswana debutants to their fifth loss in the group phase.
Meanwile, Algerians Belouizdad completed the job early, hitting Etoile du Sahel 2-0 to dent the Tunisians’ hopes of making the last eight.
Group D
Heading into the second last match day, Group D was already a foregone conclusion with both WYdad Athletic Club and Petro de Luanda assured of a place in the quarters.
However, Wydad left it late to move top of the group with a 2-1 victory over Sagrada Esperanca.
With Zamalek and Petro playing to a 0-0 lull in Luanda, Wydad moved to 12 points, one ahead of Petro.
Sagrada meanwhile have not won any of their five group stage matches.
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