Esperance Reach CAF Champions League Quarter Finals

After Wydad Casablanca of Morocco became the second team to book a quarter-final place in the CAF Champions League, another north African side Esperance du Tunis joined them on Tuesday after winning away in Egypt to ensure progression from Group D.

Esperance becomes the third side to secure a spot in the last eight with Algerian giants MC Alger waiting in the wings.

The Blood and Gold kept up a remarkable record of consistency in the Champions League where they are now in the last eight for the 15th time in the last 24 editions.

Hamdou El Houni scored the lone goal for Esperance in the 73rd minute after dribbling past Zamalek defenders in a match played at Cairo International Stadium.

MC Alger were victors in Algiers beating newcomers Teungueth to close in on the other qualification sport in Group D, but are mathematically still not assured of progress.

Mehdi Benaldjia scored in the 26th minute with a well taken shot on the half volley, a chance that came out of nothing, after the Senegalese side’s defence failed to clear ball from their backline.

Wydad’s 0-0 draw at Conakry on Tuesday afternoon ensures they will finish in the top two in Group C. The Moroccan giants dropped points for the first time in the group phase, but still remained top with 10 points.

The next round of Champions League group games will be played on Friday, April 2 and Saturday, when the some of places in the knockout stage are expected to be settled.