Three of South Africa’s clubs have advanced to the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup respectively.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates advanced to the continental premier club competition, while Stellenbosch FC advanced to the Confed Cup.
Sundowns edged Tunisian giants Esperance of Tunis 1-0 over two legs encounters, after they beat the north Africans 1-0 at the Loftus Versfeld last week and drew 0-0 in Tunis on Tuesday night.
The Brazilians will now meet arch-rivals and Egyptian giants Al Ahly who beat Sudan’s Al Hilal 2-0 aggregate win to book their seat in the semis.
Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardoso, said his team is ready to face the record winning Al Ahly.
“We know that Al Ahly has won many Champions League trophies in the last seven or eight years.
Last year, unfortunately, I lost a final against them, but I think it is possible to beat them.
We need to play complete and strong games, playing on the details for sure,” said Cardoso.
The Buccaneers also played to a 0-0 draw against Algeria’s MC Alger at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Wednesday evening, but advanced 1-0 aggregate, thanks to their 1-0 win in the first leg of their encounter last week.
The match however ended in a fistfight, as Pirates and Alger’s players exchanged blows.
The outgoing Bucs coach, Jose Riveiro, condemned the incident.
“It was not really a good picture to witness.
Football is something else to me, my group and us.
It is something special that cannot be tainted by this kind of behaviour, and it is unacceptable,” remarked Riveiro.
Pirates will now face Pyramid FC from Egypt, who overcame Morocco’s AS FAR Rabat 4-3 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch FC made history, by qualifying for the Confederations Cup, just four years after they were promoted to the Betway Premiership.
Stellies beat Zamalek 1-0 aggregate in Cairo, after Sihle Nduli scored the solitary goal of the match to send the team to the semis-finals.
“It was obviously not an easy match for us.
Zamalek had a lot of good possession.
We scored in the second half late in the game and that made it difficult for them to come back.
Our game plan was to be really tight and not concede anything. We knew they would become nervous as the game went on,” said an elated Stellies coach, Steve Barker.
The team will now face Tanzania’ Simba FC, which is coached by South Africa’s Fadlu Davids.
The first leg was played on 18/19 April, with the second leg to follow a week later on 25/26.
