The 2024/25 CAF Champions League quarter-final draw, held this afternoon (Thursday, February 20, 2025) in Doha, Qatar, has delivered some thrilling fixtures for African football fans.
The draw took place at the beIN SPORTS studios, one of the primary broadcasters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and attracted significant attention from across the continent.
Draw results
As group winners, Al Hilal (Sudan), AS FAR (Morocco), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), and Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) were seeded and could not be drawn against each other or the teams they faced in their respective groups.
This setup ensured exciting matchups, with each seeded team facing one of the three possible runners-up.
The quarter-final draw in full is as follows:
1. Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Al Hilal (Sudan) – QF1
2. Pyramids (Egypt) vs AS FAR (Morocco) – QF2
3. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) vs Esperance (Tunisia) – QF3
4. MC Alger (Algeria) vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa) – QF4
Key Fixtures for South African Teams
- Mamelodi Sundowns vs Esperance (Tunisia)
Sundowns, the 2016 champions, face a tough challenge against Tunisian giants Esperance, who are no strangers to deep runs in the competition. This clash promises to be a battle of tactical prowess and continental experience.
- MC Alger vs Orlando Pirates
The Buccaneers, who topped Group C unbeaten, will take on Algerian side MC Alger. Pirates will be confident heading into this tie, especially with the second leg scheduled to be played at home. However, MC Alger’s strong defensive record in the group stage means Pirates cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
Semi-Final Draw
The draw also revealed the potential semi-final matchups:
- Winner of QF3 (Sundowns/Esperance) vs Winner of QF1 (Al Ahly/Al Hilal)
- Winner of QF4 (Pirates/MC Alger) vs Winner of QF2 (Pyramids/AS FAR)
Schedule
The first leg fixtures will take place on April 1 and 2, with the second leg scheduled for April 8 and 9. The semi-finals will follow, with the winners advancing to the final of Africa’s premier club competition.
What’s next for South African clubs
With the draw now complete, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have clear paths to navigate as they aim to progress to the semi-finals.
Pirates will rely on their strong group-stage form and home advantage in the second leg, while Sundowns will need to overcome the experience and quality of Esperance. Both teams will be determined to make their mark and keep South Africa’s hopes alive in the quest for CAF Champions League glory.
Football fans across the continent will be eagerly anticipating these clashes as the knockout phase unfolds.
Catch all the action and updates from the continent’s premier club competition here.
