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The Star
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Tipsters' Table: All eyes on Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates in Cairo
AL AHLY vs MAMELODI SUNDOWNS The Egyptian powerhouses Al Ahly will host the visiting Sundowns in a Champions League semi-final first leg in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday evening. Sundowns are unbeaten in their last eight matches against Al Ahly, who managed four draws during this have kept clean sheets in their last three matches against Al Ahly. Their last three games have only produced one goal in total. Al Ahly are looking to secure a victory that would send them to the 2025 final, and chase a third consecutive title, as well as a record-extending 13th continental crown. The winner will face either Pyramids FC or South Africa's Orlando Pirates in the final. Prediction: Al Ahly 1 Mamelodi Sundowns 1 Odds: Al Ahly 1.96 | Draw 3.15 | Mamelodi Sundowns 3.81 PYRAMIDS FC vs ORLANDO PIRATES Pyramids FC will host Orlando Pirates in Cairo on Friday evening. Pirates eye their first Champions League final since 2013, but standing in their way is the CAF upstarts, Pyramids. Pirates' unbeaten run in the tournament will be tested again in the second leg. Pyramids are statistically the best attack in the competition, averaging 2.3 goals per game. The Egyptians finished the group stage with 14 goals, the highest tally across the 16 teams in the group stage. They were not only impressive on one end of the pitch, with their defensive discipline ranking among the best as they let in just four goals in their six round-robin fixtures. Prediction: Pyramids FC 1 Orlando Pirates 1 Odds: Pyramids 1.71 | Draw 3.33 | Orlando Pirates 4.89 STELLENBOSCH FC vs SIMBA SC Stellenbosch FC will welcome Tanzanian giants Simba SC to Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban for the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals on Sunday. Trailing 1-0 on aggregate to a solitary goal from Simba's Jean Ahoua in the first leg, Stellenbosch hope to turn the tie around on South African soil. Simba are looking to make their first continental final since the 1993 CAF Cup. Stellenbosch field a squad laced with raw talent, tactical discipline, and the aura of a team with nothing to lose. Simba SC, on the other hand, boast a rich history dating back to 1936, with decades of continental experience and carries the pressure of expectation. Prediction: Stellenbosch FC 1 Simba SC 1 Odds: Stellenbosch 2.10 | Draw 3.00 | Simba 3.50 KAIZER CHIEFS v MARUMO GALLANTS Chiefs cannot afford to slip up in their remaining Betway Premiership matches if they are to keep their chances of finishing in the Top 8 alive. Amakhosi are eighth on the log with 31 points, just one ahead of the ninth-placed Chippa United who have two games in hand. And so, with Marumo Gallants set to visit them at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm), Chiefs have to be at their best all round, and get full points. Chiefs' clean sheet record has improved - having also drawn 0-0 with Chippa in their last game - but they need to be clinical in the final third. Prediction: Kaizer Chiefs 2 Marumo Gallants 1 Odds: Kaizer Chiefs 1.60 |Draw 3.65 Marumo Gallants 5.80 POLOKWANE CITY v SUPERSPORT UNITED SuperSport are regarded as one of the Top 5 teams in the land. But thanks to their financial struggles, they are quickly falling from grace. This season, they've been a shadow of themselves so much so that instead of fighting for a Top 3 spot, they are flirting with relegation as they 15th spot on the log. And so, that's why they need to get full results in their remaining seven games as anything other than that could see them play in play-offs to retain their status. Their bid to win all their remaining matches won't be easy though, starting with the clash against Polokwane City who'll host them in Polokwane on Saturday afternoon (3pm). Prediction: Polokwane City 1 SuperSport United 1 Odds: Polokwane City 2.95 |Draw 2.95 SuperSport United 2.55 GOLDEN ARROWS v AMAZULU Abafana Bes'thende have been in a decent run of form under the leadership of Manqoba Mngqithi, and they have managed to pick up eight points from a possible 15 in their last five outings. They will welcome an Usuthu side that will be low in confidence at the Mpumalanga Stadium, and following their goalless draw in the reverse fixture, they will fancy themselves to take a step closer to the top eight. AmaZulu have little choice but to go for the win as their top eight hopes hang by a thread, and that might make for an open encounter with plenty of opportunities to score goals for both sides. Prediction: Golden Arrows to win 2-1 Odds: Golden Arrows win 2.75 I Draw 3.00 I AmaZulu win 2.70 TS GALAXY V SEKHUKHUNE UNITED The Rockets will come up against a high-flying Babina Noko side that is fresh off a commanding 2-0 win against neighbors Polokwane City last weekend. A lot will be on the line for both sides, as they are currently vying for a spot in the top three, with a spot in next season's CAF Confederation Cup still up for grabs. Galaxy walked away with an impressive 3-1 away win the last time the two sides met at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium and it will be much of the same this Saturday. Prediction: Sekhukhune United to win 2-1 Odds: TS Galaxy win 2.03 I Draw 3.10 I Sekhukhune United 3.90
CAF
20-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Simba edge Stellenbosch in narrow TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup semi-final first leg
Published: Sunday, 20 April 2025 Tanzanian giants Simba SC took a slim advantage in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup semi-final, defeating South Africa's Stellenbosch FC 1-0 in a tightly-contested encounter in Dar es Salaam on Sunday. Jean Ahoua's expertly taken free-kick just before half-time proved decisive at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday, with the Ivorian defender firing low into the corner after a VAR review overturned a prior foul. It capped off a first-half performance in which Simba looked sharper and more composed in possession. The result gives Simba a slender edge going into the return leg in South Africa, but Stellenbosch—playing in their maiden CAF competition—will take heart from their resilient showing and the narrow margin. Stellenbosch entered the clash riding a wave of confidence after their stunning quarter-final elimination of defending champions Zamalek. But they found Simba a different kind of challenge—more physical, more aggressive, and roared on by a boisterous home crowd. Simba created the better chances throughout, with Elie Mpanzu and Steven Mukwala proving constant threats. Mpanzu forced multiple saves from Stellenbosch goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke, while Mukwala's movement opened space for overlapping fullbacks and runners from midfield. The visitors' best opportunity came in the 27th minute, when Devin Titus' powerful header drew a sharp stop from Simba keeper Ally Salim. Stellenbosch nearly levelled late on, but Fawaaz Basadien's speculative strike flew wide in added time. The game grew tense in the second half, with bookings for both sides and limited rhythm due to injuries and substitutions. Stellenbosch manager Steve Barker introduced fresh legs, including Langelihle Phili and Genino Palace, but they failed to break down Simba's compact shape. Simba, led by South African coach Fadlu Davids, will be satisfied with the clean sheet and home win but know the job is only half done. They must now prepare for a potentially hostile second leg in the Western Cape, where Stellenbosch have already proven they can unsettle giants. With a place in the final at stake, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion in South Africa.
