By Lehlohonolo Lehana,
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have officially announced a new date for the semifinal clashes between Cairo giants Al Ahly and Tunisia Powerhouse Esperance de Tunis in the Champions League.
A 1-1 draw was enough for the Red Devils to clinch a spot in the next round, knocking out Mamelodi Sundowns with a 3-1 victory on aggregate to mark their 17th semi-final appearance in the competition, the most for any team in Africa.
On the other hand, Esperance pulled a comeback against CR Belouizdad and winning the game on penalties after the tie ended with 2-2 draw on aggregate.
The encounter was expected to take place on June 18 in Rades with the return leg scheduled to be played on the 25th of the same month in Cairo.
However, CAF decided to postpone the clashes one day later to be on June 19 and June 26 respectively.
The Red Devils are in the hunt for their 10th Champions League title after triumphing their ninth African trophy in November 2020 defeating arch rivals Zamalek in the final.
Esperance are looking to achieve their third CL success in the last four years having won four titles throughout their history.
It is worth noting that the winner of the encounter will face the winner of the Kaizer Chiefs-Wydad Athletic Club fixture in the other semifinal.
Meanwhile hostilities between Pitso Mosimane and his former club Mamelodi Sundowns continued unabated after his representatives revealed on Monday that they received summons from the Chloorkop-based side demanding to be paid back commission fees related to the coach.
Mosimane left Sundowns in September last year just months after extending his contract and proceeded to join Egyptian powerhouses Al Ahly in a move that stunned the nation’s soccer lovers.
The decision apparently did not go down very well at Chloorkop and the tension between the two parties has been brewing for months.
The revered coach’s representatives, MT Sports Marketing and Management, said they were stunned after receiving the summons from the recently crowned DStv Premiership champions.
“It is with a deep measure of shock and disappointment that MT Sports Marketing and Management has received summons from Mamelodi Sundowns F.C demanding to be paid back commission fees in lieu of coach Pitso Mosimane‚” the management company said.
We have received communication from Mamelodi Sundowns and have attempted to reach an amicable solution to this matter‚ however they have not responded to our request to meet with us.”
“We attempted to speak to then club president Dr Patrice Motsepe in January this year‚ and we were refused‚ and also last week with chairman Tlhopane Motsepe‚ we were met with silence.”
The hostilities have been simmering for months and matters came to a head when a section of the Pretoria club’s supporters hurled insults at Mosimane and his mother as he was travelling in the Al Ahly team bus on the way to Lucas Moripe Stadium to face Sundowns in a tense Caf Champions League second leg quarterfinal match last week.