The CAF Champions League semi-finals conclude this weekend, with all four teams still looking to punch their way into the two-legged final. Here’s a preview of the second leg action.
CAF Champions League | Al Ahly vs TP Mazembe | 20:00 | 26 April
With the first leg tie ending in a goalless draw in Lubumbashi last week, both sides head into the return leg with every chance of securing a final ticket. Al Ahly rode their luck in Congo, and were spared by poor finishing from the hosts. Zemanga Soze and Phillippes Kinzumbi missed golden opportunities to earn Mazembe a deserved win in front of a raucous crowd. Mazembe’s 2-1 away win over Petro De Luanda in the quarterfinals’ second leg was their first victory on the road this season, arresting a slump of three winless fixtures in the group stages.
The defending champions could only muster one shot on target in the reverse fixture and looked in celebratory mood when the referee whistled for full-time. The artificial pitch took its toll on the Egyptian powerhouse as they failed to hit the ground running. Marcel Koller’s side eased to a 3-0 aggregate victory over Simba in the quarterfinals, thus improving their undefeated home record to four games in the competition. Emam Ashour, Yasser Ibrahim, and Aliou Dieng remain on the injured list while Percy Tau is expected to return.
Al Ahly are usually unstoppable at home and will make Mazembe pay for their profligacy in the first leg. Add the home on all your multiples.
Prediction: Al Ahly Win @ 138. I would also give a look at over 1.5 total goals for the home side which is available @ 1.64
CAF Champions League |Mamelodi Sundowns vs Esperance Tunis | 21:00 | 26 April
The Tunisians produced a defensive masterclass to earn a tough 1-0 home triumph over Sundowns last week. Despite repeated attacks from the away side, Esperance’s defensive shape was never broken and that resolve was welcomed by head coach Miguel Cardoso. Taraji’s win marked their seventh consecutive clean sheet in the competition, a run stretching back to 09 December last year. The defensive resistance and ability to hurt opposition on the counter-attack have borne fruits for the Tunisians who are now unbeaten in three away encounters heading into Pretoria for the rematch.
Sundowns’ hopes of reaching the final were dealt a heavy blow in the first leg, losing by a single goal in Tunis despite dominating and creating numerous opportunities to win the match. Head coach Rulani Mokwena opted for a new starting line-up in the midweek league tie against high-flying Sekhukhune United, and his tinkering was rewarded with a 2-1 victory to extend their unbeaten league run to 22 matches this season. The win continued Downs’ incredible record on home soil since the turn of the year, making it eight games unbeaten in all competitions. Sundowns are sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Tebogo Mokoena who’s yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury.
This is a high-stakes game and I’m expecting the Brazilians to easily dispatch Esperance at home.
Prediction: Mamelodi Sundowns Win @ 1.74
