- Yanga thrashed Algeria’s CRB 4-0
- Mazembe were 3-0 winners at home over Pyramids
- Sundowns won 2-0 away to FC Nouadhibou
Tanzanian Premier League champions Young Africans (Yanga), DR Congo’s TP Mazembe and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns have all qualified for the quarter finals of the CAF Champions League (CAF CL) after winning their penultimate matches of the group stage.
Yanga qualified for the first time in the new era of the tournament after thrashing Algeria’s CR Belouizdad 4-0 in Dar es Salaam.
The victory took them to eight points, earning them an unassailable three-point lead to the Algerians with only one match left in the group phase.
They are just a point behind leaders and record champions Al Ahly, who earned a 1-0 win over Medeama SC earlier on Friday to also book a spot in the last eight.
Mudathir Yahya, Stephane Aziz Ki, Kennedy Musonda and Joseph Guede gave Wananchi the victory at home, keeping their dream of replicating last season’s form alive.
Last season, Yanga made it all the way to the final of the CAF Confederation Cup, losing to Algeria’s USM Alger by a slim margin. This year, their ambition is to do the same in the Champions League.
The victory against the Algerians was sweet revenge for Yanga, who lost 3-0 when they faced them in the first leg in Algiers.
Yahya broke the deadlock for Yanga in the 42nd minute with a brilliant left footed volley from inside the box off a Joyce Lomalisa cross from the left.
In the second half, Yanga ran riot. Just 55 seconds after the restart, Aziz Ki scored the second with a low shot on the turn inside the box.
Just a minute later, it was 3-0 for Yanga when Musonda tapped in at the back post, but credit to Pacome Zouazoua who did well to make a run on the right, dance past two markers and the keeper before slapping a low cross in.
Seven minutes to time, Guede completed the rout with a neat finish from an Aziz Ki pass.
After Yanga, Mazembe also secure CAF CL quarter final berth
TP Mazembe celebrate their win
Meanwhile, TP Mazembe continued with their good performance on the Continental front after beating Egyptian moneybags Pyramids 3-0.
For the last two seasons, Mazembe failed to make the group stages of the Champions League and were equally eliminated from the Confederation Cup, but this season, they seem to have made amends.
The victory at home in Lubumbashi over the Egyptian side lifted them to 10 points, top of Group A and only separated from second placed Mamelodi Sundowns by head to head record.
The two sides lock horns in the final match of the group this weekend, and Mazembe, who beat the South Africans 1-0 in the first leg, only need a point to secure top spot in the group.
Against Pyramids, with full support at their home turf, Mazembe were in sublime form.
They broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute through Joel Beya, the forward finishing home from close range after a brilliant cross by Glody Likonza from the right.
The Ravens would get the second goal again from a move off the right, this time Likonza turning scorer with an easy tap in from close range after Fily Traore’s initial effort came off the upright.
They sealed the victory in the second half, Patient Mwamba scoring in the second minute of added time. The pacy forward took advantage of some poor ball control from a Pyramids defender before clipping the ball over the advancing keeper.
Mazembe have won all their home matches in the Champions League this season.
Mokwena lauds Sundowns after Nouadhibou win
Action between FC Nouadhibou and Sundowns. PHOTO/Sundowns
At the same time, Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has lauded his team for their effort in qualifying, following a 2-0 victory over Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou.
The victory away from home took Sundowns to 10 points and second in Group A, inking a ticket to the last eight with a match to spare.
They are only second to leaders TP Mazembe, as they lost 1-0 to the Congolese side in the first leg in Lubumbashi.
Speaking after the game, Mokwena was full of praise for his side.
“I think that was an incredible effort from our players and the whole team. I thought in the first half we had a lot of control and chances. In the second half we also had a lot of chances and the substitutes were also very good,” the tactician saud after the game.
He adds; “We expected a tough game. We trained on the pitch so we could see the conditions because we don’t play on astroturfs in South Africa. The humidity is not easy and that’s why you are stronger at home. It proved to be a very difficult match with a lot of physicality. They had a very good defensive line. The midfield also had some very good players.”
Sundowns host Mazembe in Pretoria next weekend, and a win will see them finish top of the group.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login