Record winners Al Ahly Cairo made it into a sixth consecutive semi-final of the CAF Champions League after holding off for a 0-0 draw with Morocco’s Raja Club Athletic in Casablanca on Saturday night.The Egyptian side carried a 2-0 advantage into the return leg, having won the first leg by that margin in Cairo.This was the consecutive time that Al Ahly were eliminating the Moroccan side at the same stage in the same competition having done the same last year.𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗦! ✅All-time #TotalEnergiesCAFCL record holders @AlAhly are off to their 4th semifinals in-a-row! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FY5oYWvxwS— TotalEnergies CAFCL – TotalEnergies CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) April 29, 2023 Playing at their iconic Mohamed V Complex, Raja hoped for a push from the crowd as they looked to overturn the 2-0 first leg deficit and they pressured Ahly to defend deep and they had a chance finally after 28 minutes when Yousri Bouzouk found shooting space from a tight angle but Mohamed Elshenawy made a great save for a corner.At the stroke of halftime, Raja were handed a golden chance to break the deadlock when an on-field review of the VAR by the referee awarded them a penalty following an Aliou Dieng foul on Bouzouk inside the box. The Algerian took responsibility on his shoulders but sent his penalty cracking under the bar, much to the relief of the Ahly players but none of the team’s could break the deadlock in the second half.##NAJAVA_MECA_7217578##In another match played on Saturday, Tunisian giants Esperance Tunis booked their semis spot as well despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home against Algerian side JS Kabylie in a match marred by crowd trouble.Clashes between police and spectators delayed the restart for the second half for close to an hour.After a goalless first half, video footage showed police firing tear gas into a section of the crowd occupied by supporters wearing the colors of Esperance.Mozzart Bet Cup: Leopards, Homeboyz, Sharks and Bandari out to secure semis ticketsPleas from several Esperance players to the crowd to stop throwing objects on the pitch were initially ignored at the national stadium in Rades on the outskirts of Tunis.According to reports, Esperance supporters tried to enter the pitch after the first half, but the police intervened and clashes broke out.The home side dominated the second leg at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi and advanced 2-1 on aggregate after the tight game in Rades.𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗦! ✅2018 & 18/19 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL back-to-back winners @ESTunis1919 are through to the final four! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/q5wv3mJ7IV— TotalEnergies CAFCL – TotalEnergies CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) April 29, 2023 The Tunisian giants advanced thanks to their 1-0 first-leg win over their opponents in the first-leg of the quarter-final tie last week.Mohamed Ben Romdhane was the hero for the home side as he scored the first goal of the match just four minutes after the break.Kenya Chipu out to reclaim U20 Barthes Trophy in final against ZimbabweThe striker latched onto a long ball floated by defender Yassine Meriah before outpacing his two markers and fired beyond goalkeeper into the bottom corner with his left foot.Substitute Adem Redjem restored some hope for the visitors with five minutes remaining when he pounced on a lose ball after goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia failed to deal with a nicely hit effort from the edge of the box but it was not enough to inspire a comeback.Additional reporting by CAF
