Advantage Mamelodi Sundowns? Al Ahly and Pyramids out as Esperance lie in wait

Mamelodi Sundowns seemingly appear to have an easier path to CAF Champions League glory after two of their main rivals for the title were eliminated at the quarter-final.

Sundowns will play away to Stade Malien of Mali on Sunday, holding a 3-0 first leg advantage and if they complete the job, they will take on four-time winners Esperance in the semi-final.

This is after the Tunisian giants eliminated record 12-time winners Al Ahly following a 4-2 aggregate victory after losing the second leg 3-2 in Cairo on Saturday.

The Egyptian powerhouse initially went ahead in the 10th minute through Mahmoud Trezeguet but Esperance mounted a comeback, with Florian Danho leveling the score in the 68th minute with a powerful strike from outside the box.

Al Ahly and Pyramids crushed out

The Tunisian side then took the lead 10 minutes later when Mohamed Amine Tougai converted a penalty.

Al Ahly managed to equalise at 2-2 in the 84th minute after an own goal from Hamza Jelassi, but the defender made amends in dramatic fashion. Jelassi scored a 94th-minute winner from a Youssef Msakni corner, sealing a 3-2 second-leg victory for Esperance.

Meanwhile, defending champions Pyramids, who beat Sundowns in last season’s final, also crashed out following a 2-1 home loss to Moroccan side Royal Armed Forces, popularly known as AS FAR, in Cairo on Saturday and a 3-2 defeat on aggregate.

Despite securing a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Rabat, the Egyptian side fell short in Cairo. The club had lifted its first-ever Champions League trophy last June after defeating Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

Is it time for Mamelodi Sundowns now?

At Cairo’s 30 June Stadium, the visitors took an early lead when Rida Slim scored in the ninth minute. Mohamed Rabie Hrimat extended their advantage with a header in the 54th minute. Although Fiston Mayele pulled one back for Pyramids just after the hour mark, they were unable to find the crucial equalizer that would have forced a penalty shootout.

“This is a historic win and a historic qualification for the club,” Royal Armed Forces forward Youssef El Fahli told beIN Sports as per Modern Ghana. “We have the determination to fight for the title this season and, God willing, we’ll bring home the club’s second continental crown.”

With both Pyramids and Al Ahly eliminated, Sundowns will now be christened hot favourites to win the title, although Esperance, four-time winners who last claimed the title in 2019, pose a great challenge while AS FAR have been improving even if their only title was won in 1985.