CAF Champions League: State of Play Ahead of Final Group-Stage Matchday

Six CAF Champions League Quarter-Final Slots Locked In

Ahead of matchday five of the CAF Champions League, only one team had secured their qualification to the quarter-final - Sudanese outfit Al-Hilal. The Super D1 side took 10 points from their first four group-stage matches, and despite suffering a defeat to Young Africans last week, they are guaranteed a top-two finish in Group A, even if they lose their final game this weekend. Al-Hilal face TP Mazembe away on Saturday and are outsiders to win the match with Bet365. 

Joining Al-Hilal in the knockout rounds of the competition are Group B leaders AS FAR, who booked their spot in the last eight on Saturday night even though they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Raja Casablanca. The Botola Pro 1 side will travel to face off against Mamelodi Sundowns in their final match of the group, but with their qualification already confirmed, they are installed as the underdogs to triumph according to the latest CAF Champions League betting odds.

Group C in this season’s CAF Champions League is already done and dusted with South African PSL giants Orlando Pirates and defending champions Al Ahly both guaranteed progression to the knockouts. Emam Ashour’s hat-trick helped the Egyptian powerhouse overturn a one-goal deficit against Stade d’Abidjan last Saturday, while the Buccaneers reclaimed the top spot in the group with a 2-1 victory over Algeria’s CR Belouizdad 24 hours later. These two are set to face off in a dead-rubber final match of the group in Cairo, with Al Ahly listed as a massive favourite while Pirates are a 9/1 shot.

Similarly, Group D is all wrapped up heading into the final round of matches with Pyramids FC of Egypt and Tunisia’s Esperance both picking up victories on matchday five to move to 10 points with identical records (W3 D1 L1).  Sagrada Esperanca and Djoliba AC were thus left on five and two points respectively and will play their final matches of the competition as a mere formality. Pyramids are the second-shortest-priced favourites on the card this weekend against Djoliba, while Esperance are the biggest favourites for a win in the final round, with almost even-money available for the Tunisian outfit to end the group stage with a victory over Sagrada Esperanca. 

Four Teams Set to Battle for Final Two Qualification Spots 

With six CAF Champions League quarter-final entrants already locked in, matchday six on the card is set to deliver a few crucial encounters - none more so than in Group A where MC Alger (8) and Young Africans (7) are separated by just a single point. These two are set to lock horns in Dar es Salaam on Saturday in a match that promises to produce fireworks, with the visitors needing just a draw to earn qualification, while Yanga will be out to avenge the 2-0 defeat they suffered in Algiers back in December. 

Young Africans must win this match to reach the last eight and all the best online betting sites have inserted them as the clear favourites to progress to the knockouts.

In Group B, South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns put themselves in an advantageous position to reach the knockout round of Africa’s top-tier competition by notching up a crucial 2-1 victory on the road against DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union in Kinshasa last weekend. Masandawana have a tough assignment on matchday six, as they are set to face the group leaders AS FAR at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday, but they only need a single point to guarantee second place, while a victory will see them end the round-robin stage as group winners. You can check out our Mamelodi Sundowns vs AS Far Rabat preview right here on SportyTrader! Raja Casablanca have to win their match and need Sundowns to lose their fixture in order to progress. 

Pride is at stake for many teams on the final matchday of the group stage, and you can make use of our experts’ CAF Champions League predictions free of charge to help structure your bets for this weekend!