Homeless Hilal reach CAF Champions League quarter-finals

Hilal, hosting matches in Rwanda because of the Sudanese civil war, edged Saint-Eloi Lupopo from the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 to top Group C with Steven Ebuela scoring the only goal.

Sundowns finished runners-up in the same section, two points behind Hilal, after a brace from Colombian Brayan Leon delivered a 2-0 win over Mouloudia Alger of Algeria in Pretoria.

Esperance came second behind already-qualified Stade Malien of Mali by beating Petro Luanda of Angola 2-0 in Rades through goals from Malian Aboubacar Diakite and Burkinabe Jack Diarra.

Malien surrendered a nine-match unbeaten run in qualifying and group matches when losing 1-0 to Simba of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, where Ivorian Anicet Oura notched the lone goal.

Senegalese Paul Bassene scored twice as Berkane outplayed Rivers United of Nigeria 3-0 in Morocco to finish Group A runners-up behind Pyramids, who beat Power Dynamos of Zambia 3-1 in Cairo.

Defending champions Pyramids of Egypt were assured of qualification with two matches to spare.

In the penultimate matchday last weekend, record 12-time African champions Al Ahly and surprising Stade Malien joined Pyramids.

- Tougher fixture -

The last quarter-finals slot will be decided on Sunday between FAR Rabat of Morocco, who have eight points, and Young Africans of Tanzania, who are three points behind.

FAR have what appears to be the tougher final Group B fixture, away to Ahly in Cairo. Young Africans host winless bottom club JS Kabylie of Algeria in Zanzibar City.

Young Africans must win and hope FAR lose to have a chance to squeezing into the last eight on goal difference.

The group winners -- Pyramids, Ahly or FAR, Hilal and Malien -- will be kept apart in the draw. They will host the second legs.

Runners-up Berkane, Ahly or FAR or Young Africans, Sundowns and Esperance go into a separate bowl. No club will be paired with one they met in the group stage.

The first legs are set for March 13-14, with the return matches on March 20-21.

Possible pairings include Pyramids against Sundowns -- a repeat of the last final which the Egyptians surprisingly won 3-2 on aggregate in only their second Champions League appearance.

Pyramids and Sundowns are among five winners of the competition still in contention. The others are Ahly, FAR and Esperance. Hilal and Malien have been runners-up.

FAR, Hilal and Malien reached finals pre 1997 when the competition was called the African Cup of Champions Clubs and had an exclusively knockout format.