Record African champions Al Ahly will be desperate to get their 2022/2023 CAF Champions League campaign on track but have a very tough fixture awaiting them in the third round of the Group Stage action as they host an in form Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday evening in Cairo, Egypt.The North African giants started their campaign for an 11th CAF Champions League title with defeat away to Al Hilal of Sudan in Omdurman leaving them with a first hurdle to overcome early on.Back at El Tetsh 😍🦅#YallaYaAhly pic.twitter.com/vhdNb3ol2I— Al Ahly SC 🇬🇧 (@AlAhlyEnglish) February 23, 2023 Heading into the match, which will be a repeat of last season’s group stage match up, Al Ahly will be keen to get their revenge as Sundowns won both home and away legs.Despite the Red Devils warming up for the grand clash against The Brazilians with a 3-0 thrashing of Aswan in the Egyptian Premier League, a huge challenge awaits them as the Rulani Mokwena led Sundowns have an enviable record of losing only once in their last 24 matches in all competitons.Our next battle for three points sees us travel to Egypt to take on the Red Devils in Africa’s Derby! 🌍🙌⚽ Al Ahly vs Mamelodi Sundowns📆 25 February⏰ 21H00🏟 Al Salam Stadium🏆 CAF Champions League📺 SS 208📲 #Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/gKLxftFpEP— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) February 22, 2023 Their only defeat was a surprise 3-0 spanking at the hands of Orlando Pirates in the MTN8. Since then, they have been on a run of 16 consecutive wins, including two wins in their opening two Group B matches that has seen them top the log on 6 points.The East African derbyTanzania’s Simba and Uganda’s Vipers clash under the floodlights at the St. Mary’s Stadium in the outskirts of Kampala on Saturday evening.Tuliwano mu Uganda 🇺🇬#NguvuMoja pic.twitter.com/tKIE1drhdQ— Simba Sports Club (@SimbaSCTanzania) February 23, 2023 Both sides are winless after the first two rounds of matches, and this will be a key and crucial fixture for both of them. The most interesting bit though, will be the return of Brazilian coach Roberto Oliveira to the St. Mary’s Stadium.The tactician, nicknamed Robertinho, led Vipers to qualification for the group stages for the first time ever, before he left them for Simba in January this year. He will be returning to the club on enemy attire, barely two months later.##NAJAVA_MECA_7052959##Vipers have a point from last weekend’s draw at home against Horoya, while Simba are winless after back to back losses against Horoya and Raja Club Athletic.Vipers tactician Roberto Bianchi expects a better performance at home from his side, saying he is pleased with the improvement he has seen since their 5-0 drubbing on match day one away to Raja.Almost half-way through the 2022/23 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL group-stages! 🔥Here are matchday 3’s matches of the round. 👇 pic.twitter.com/QX9bhhergv— TotalEnergies CAFCL – TotalEnergies CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) February 23, 2023 The North African affairEsperance de Tunis will host Egyptian giants Zamalek in Rades, in what is also expected to be a blockbuster tie.Esperance lead Group D with a maximum six points after back to back 1-0 victories away to Algeria’s CR Belouizdad and at home against AL Merreikh.On song Omanyala runs world leading time in Athletics Kenya meet in NairobiOn the other hand, Zamalek have just a single point from their draw against Merreikh while they lost to Algeria’s Belouizdad.These two sides last met in March 2021, with Esperance winning 1-0 in Cairo. It has however been a balance over the last seven meetings between the two sides, each winning three while one ended in a draw.KCB head coach gives green light for possible reunion with free agent OtangaFor Zamalek, it will be a crucial encounter to earn three points to keep their campaign on track.Full FixturesFridayAl-Merreikh vs CR Belouizdad – 1600EATCotonsport vs Al-Hila Omdurman – 1900EATWydad vs Petro Athletico -2200EATSaturdayAS Vita Club vs Kabylie -1600EATEsperance Tunis vs Zamalek – 1900EATVipers vs Simba – 1900EATAl Ahly vs Mamaelodi Sundowns – 2200EATRaja Casablanca vs Horoya – 2200EATAdditional Reporting by CAF.
