French coach Patrice Neveu was ditched by Horoya AC after guiding the Guinean club to the CAF Champions League quarter-finals © AFP / EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Mar 21 – Guinean club Horoya, who reacted to reaching the CAF Champions League knockout phase by dumping French coach Patrice Neveu, were drawn against Moroccans Wydad Casablanca in the quarter-finals Wednesday.
The Conakry club have offered no explanation for the shock move after widely experienced Neveu masterminded a largely impressive group campaign.
Horoya finished second in Group B behind trophy-holders Esperance of Tunisia, but four points ahead of Orlando Pirates of South Africa after beating them 2-1 last Saturday.
Previous coaching assignments of Neveu included handling the national teams of Niger, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mauritania.
He has been replaced by France-born Didier Gomes da Rosa, whose best achievement in Africa was guiding Cameroonians Coton Sport to the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals.
Horoya president Antonio Souare has publicly demanded that the team reach the Champions League semi-finals this season after losing to Egyptians Al Ahly in a 2018 last-eight tie.
He is set to be disappointed, though, as twice champions Wydad should prove too strong over two legs under the guidance of veteran Tunisian coach Faouzi Benzarti.
The draw in a Cairo hotel paired Esperance with CS Constantine of Algeria, surprise qualifiers from Group C at the expense of Club Africain of Tunisia and Ismaily of Egypt.
Record eight-time champions Ahly will face Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in a repeat of the 2001 final won convincingly by the Cairo Red Devils.
Tanzanian club Simba, another surprise qualifier, face five-time trophy-holders TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Draws
Quarter-finals
CS Constantine (ALG) v Esperance (TUN, holders)
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) v Al Ahly (EGY)
Horoya AC (GUI) v Wydad Casablanca (MAR)
Simba SC (TAN) v TP Mazembe (COD)
First legs: April 5/6, second: April 12/13
Semi-finals
Horoya/Wydad v Sundowns/Ahly
Constantine/Esperance v Simba/Mazembe
First legs: April 26/27, second: May 3/4
Final
Horoya/Wydad/Sundowns/Ahly v Constantine/Esperance/Simba/Mazembe
First leg: May 24/25, second: May 31/June 1
