SINAN RAJUB SENOGA
Mamelodi Sundowns and TP Mazembe failed to overturn 2-0 first leg defeats in the quarter finals of this season’s CAF Champions League and subsequently bowed out of the prestigious competition.
Sundowns drew 1-1 with Al Ahly in Pretoria a result that sent the Egyptian giants to the semi finals with a 3-1 aggregate score.
Dennis Onyango was unfortunate to concede from his teammate Lebohang Maboe who deflected Al Ahly’s free kick into his own net after 21 minutes.
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Seven minutes later, Gaston Sirino equalised for the South Africans who couldn’t score three more to progress.
In Lubumbashi, TP Mazembe were ejected by Raja Casablanca despite winning 1-0 thanks to teenager Isaac Tshibangu’s second half goal.
Striker Jackson Muleka squandered a glorious opportunity which would have tied the encounter at 2-2 on aggregate, when he missed a decisive penalty in the 70th minute.
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His penalty was saved by goalkeeper Anas Zniti who had fouled him.
Uganda Cranes left back Joseph Ochaya was an unused substitute as Ivorian Wonlo Coulibaly took his place.
The result implied that the Ravens bow out of the competition courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate defeat.
Another Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca progressed to the semi finals with a 2-1 aggregate despite losing the second leg 1-0 to Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia.
Zamalek were the first team to qualify after edging Esperance 3-2 on aggregate despite losing the second leg 1-0 in Rades, Tunisia on Friday.
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Noteworthy, all group winners were eliminated and the semi finals will only have all the teams that finished second in the group stages.
The semi finals which are slated for May, will see Raja Casablanca taking on Zamalek while Wydad Casablanca will face Al Ahly.
Full Quarter Final Results
• Esperance de Tunis 1-0 Zamalek (2-3 Agg.)
• Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Al Ahly (1-3 Agg.)
• TP Mazembe 1-0 Raja Casablanca (1-2 Agg.)
• Etoile du Sahel 1-0 Wydad Casablanca (1-2 Agg.)
Semi Final Pairings
• Raja Casablanca (Morocco) vs Zamalek SC (Egypt)
• Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) vs Al Ahly (Egypt)
