Eight teams on Wednesday confirmed their places in the lucrative group phase of the CAF Champions League.
North Africa once again proved their dominance on the continent by producing half of that number while the remainder was shared among the other regions.
The clubs will be drawn into groups of four – with the draw scheduled for May 24 in Cairo, Egypt.
Here’s a rundown of the teams that survived the odds and scaled through to the last eight of Africa’s biggest club competition.
- Al Ahly – Egypt
Egyptian giants, Al Ahly, booked a place in the last eight of the competition after seeing off Tanzanian side, Young Africans, 3-2 on aggregate.
The Red Devils, considered the most successful club on the continent, will be aiming for a record ninth Champions League crown this term.
- Wydad Casablanca – Morocco
TP Mazembe’s hopes of achieving back-to-back titles ended at home in Lubumbashi after being held to a 1-1 draw, which left them out 3-1 on aggregate to John Toshack’s Wydad Casablanca.
The 1992 champions, who were runners-up in 2011, will grab some confidence from their ability to eliminate the defending champions.
- Enyimba – Nigeria
Nigeria champions, Enyimba FC, finally got it right at the fourth of asking – qualifying for the last eight for the first time since 2012.
The two-time African champions eliminated 2007 champions, Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia, 4-3 on penalties, after the game ended 3-3 on aggregate.
- ASEC Mimosas – Cote d’Ivoire
The other West Africans in the last eight, Ivorian champions, ASEC Mimosas, lost 2-1 against Libyan club, Al Ahli, but went through having won the first leg 2-0.
ASEC will be hoping to end an 18-year wait for a continental honour – with their last triumph coming in 1998.
- AS Vita Club – DR Congo
One of the surprise packages of the tournament, AS Vita, is one of the few clubs yet to taste continental glory at any level.
The 2014 finalists advanced to the group stage on away goals at the expense of South African club, Sundowns, with the tie ending 2-2 in Pretoria.
- ZESCO United – Zambia
ZESCO United became the only club to win both second round legs when they added a 2-1 home win to the 3-1 victory they had at Stade Malien in the first leg.
The Zambian champions are on their best ever run in the competition after failing to go beyond the last 16 in four other attempts.
- Zamalek – Egypt
The second Cairo-based team in the last eight, Zamalek held MO Bejaia to a 1-1 draw after beating the Algerian side 2-0 in the corresponding fixture.
Zamalek are chasing rivals, Al Ahly, for a sixth continental title.
- ES Setif – Algeria
ES Setif, who won the competition twice, suffered a scare as they were held to a goalless draw at home by last years’ semi-finalists Al Merreikh.
As the first leg in Sudan ended in a 2-2, the 2014 winners go through on the away-goals rule.
