Photo Credit: Espérance Sportive de Tunis
The group stage of the 2024-25 CAF Champions League begins on Tuesday with all four groups in action to compete for the top prize in African club football. Group D contains a couple of clubs from sub-Saharan Africa alongside a couple of big spending North African clubs. Read more about group favorites Espérance and Pyramids FC as well as intriguing underdogs Sagrada and Djoliba AC below.
Espérance ST (TUN)
Background
Based in the Tunisian capital city of Tunis, Espérance are the most successful club from the North African country and one of the biggest clubs in Africa. Fourth on the all-time list with four Champions League trophies, EST have also captured 54 domestic trophies including 33 titles in the country's top division Ligue 1 Professionnelle. After winning back-to-back Champions League titles in 2018 and 2019, EST returned to the final last season but fell to Al Ahly of Egypt and expectations remain high for the Blood and Gold as always.
How did they qualify?
EST qualified as the winners of the 2023-24 Tunisia Ligue 1 Professionnelle
Qualifying stages
First Round: Bye
Second Round: Defeated Dekedaha (SOM) 12-1 on aggregate
Coach: Laurențiu Reghecampf
Photo Credit: Espérance Sportive de Tunis
The Romanian gaffer signed on for his first coaching adventure in African football earlier this month, succeeding Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso after a poor start to the 2024-25 season. It is difficult to know what to expect from the 49-year-old who has spent time in the Arab World with multiple spells at clubs in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in addition to jobs in his native country and in Azerbaijan. The situation is not ideal for EST but there is enough talent in the squad to advance out of the group while Reghecampf implements his style of play.
Important Player: Youcef Belaïli
Photo Credit: Espérance Sportive de Tunis
The temperamental 32-year-old Algerian attacker from Oran is now on his third spell with EST with whom he won the 2018 CAF Champions League. His success with EST launched a club career that took him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France and back to Algeria where he won the 2023-24 Algerian Ligue 1 with MC Alger before coming back to EST with much fanfare. EST lacked an explosive attack last season when they fell short in the Champions League final but now with Belaïli offering additional support to Brazilian playmaker Yan Sasse there is plenty of firepower for a deep run in the 2024-25 edition.
Author: Andrew Olsson
Sagrada Esperança (ANG)
Background
Sagrada are based in the northeast province of Lundo Norte in Angola, an area important to the country's mining industry which has played an important role in the history of the club. Winner of five trophies in Angolan football, Sagrada won the 2005 and 2021 editions of the top division Girabola championship and have also won two domestic cup titles. This will be the club's fourth appearance in the CAF Champions League where their best finish was an exit at the group stage in the 2021-22 edition.
How did they qualify?
Sagrada were the runners-up in the 2023-24 Angolan Girabola
Qualifying stages
First Round: Defeated Saint Louis Suns United (SEZ) 4-0 on aggregate
Second Round: Defeated Enugu Rangers (NGA) 3-2 on aggregate
Coach: Roque Sapiri
The 50-year-old took over as the head coach of Sagrada in early 2020 and is a figure held in high regard at the club where he spent several years on the technical staff before becoming manager. Sapiri oversaw Sagrada's previous recent appearances in CAF club competitions including the Champions League campaign during the 2021-22 season as well as the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup where Sagrada came close to qualifying for the knockout stages. After an indifferent start to the current season, Sagrada are beginning to find their form in domestic football but it will be a very difficult task to qualify out of this group.
Important Player: Shaquille Nangy
The central midfielder usually goes by the moniker of "Shaquille" and has plenty of international experience with almost thirty appearances for the Mozambique national team. Shaquille represented the Mambas twice off the bench during their successful qualification campaign to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and is a key addition for Sagrada from Ferroviário de Maputo in his homeland. A deep-lying midfielder, the 26-year-old is known for his intelligence, stability and passing ability.
Author: Andrew Olsson
Pyramids FC (EGY)
Background
Pyramids FC, based in Cairo, Egypt, has quickly emerged as a strong contender in both domestic and continental competitions. Since the club was acquired by Saudi Minister Turki Al Al-Sheikh, followed by the current Emirati ownership in 2019, Pyramids FC has undergone a significant transformation. This shift in ownership brought increased investment which has helped propel the club into the spotlight.
One of the richest clubs in Africa, Pyramids FC has established itself as a rising force in African football with very good performances in the Egyptian Premier League and qualification for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup group stages. While still in pursuit of their first league title, Pyramids claimed their maiden trophy by winning the Egypt Cup in the 2023-2024 season.
How did they qualify?
Pyramids qualified as the runners-up of the 2023-24 Egyptian Premier League season.
Qualifying stages
First Round: Defeated JKU (ZNZ) 9-1 on aggregate
Second Round: Defeated APR (RWA) 4-2 on aggregate
Coach: Krunoslav Jurčić
Photo Credit: Pyramids FC
The Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurčić was appointed at Pyramids FC in February 2024. Jurčić has a rich managerial background, having coached top-tier clubs such as Dinamo Zagreb, where he won three league titles, one domestic cup, and the Croatian Super Cup. He also claimed the UAE League title with Al Nasr.
Jurčić has also served as an assistant coach for the Croatian national team and led teams like Adana Demirspor (Turkey), Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and Al Nasr in the UAE League. At Pyramids, he played a pivotal role in winning their first Egyptian Cup and in their fierce push for the 2023-24 Egyptian Premier League title.
Important Player: Mostafa Fathi
Photo Credit: Pyramids FC
The 30-year-old winger is a tricky player on the ball with excellent dribbling ability. A current member of the Egypt national team, Fathi made his name with Zamalek and also played in Saudi Arabia before returning to Egypt on a permanent transfer to Pyramids for the 2022-23 season. Fathi likes to operate on the right wing and cut inside to run at defenders and cause havoc, accumulating 27 goals and 16 appearances across all competitions with Pyramids.
Author: Hossam Ahmed
Djoliba AC (MLI)
Background
Founded in 1960, the Bamako club moved ahead of rivals Stade Malien on the list by winning their record 24th top division title in Malien football at the end of last season. A historical club with many appearances in CAF club competitions, Djoliba's best achievement in African football was reaching the 2012 CAF Confederation Cup final where they fell just short to Republic of Congo's AC Léopards by a 4-3 aggregate score. The club's name comes from the term for the Niger River used in the West African language Bambara (also known as Bamana).
How did they qualify?
Djoliba qualified after becoming champions at the conclusion of the 2023-24 Malian Première Division season.
Qualifying stages
First Round: Defeated Red Star de Bangui (CAF) by walkover
Second Round: Defeated ASKO Kara (TOG) 2-0 on aggregate
Coach: Demba Mamadou Traoré
Traoré continues to revive the fortunes of Djoliba and bring the club back to the top of Malian football. With experience coaching other top division clubs in the country as well as the youth national teams of Mali, Traoré became the first Malian coach to qualify a Malian club for the group stage of the CAF Champions League. Since his hiring at the end of 2023 his tactics and adjustments have been credited for making the difference in important matches making Traoré a local coach with a rising reputation.
Important Player: Zoumana Simpara
It has been a very interesting career for the 26-year-old forward who can operate on either wing or centrally. Simpara moved to the United States in 2016 where he spent time with the reserve team of the New York Red Bulls. The former star of the Mali under-17 and under-20 national teams eventually returned to Malian football where he has thrived. Possessing a mix of decent size and quality in the final third, Simpara is one of the stars in Malian domestic football and will be crucial if Djoliba have ambitions to progress beyond the group stage.
Author: Andrew Olsson
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