Stade Malien make history in the CAF Champions League

Stade Malien made history on Sunday, officially becoming the first Malian club to reach the CAF Champions League knockout stage following a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over Tunisian visitors Esperance in Bamako. Daouda Coulibaly proved to be the ultimate hero, scoring the decisive goal after 54 minutes of the critical Group D clash. This result lifted Stade to 11 points, while Esperance and Angola’s Petro Luanda sit on six points ahead of their clash, with Tanzania’s Simba on two.

Previously, the 'Whites' failed nineteen times to reach the group phase, effectively becoming the season’s absolute biggest surprise package. Two Cameroonians have been pivotal to the campaign: Coach Mauril Njoya and five-goal joint-leading scorer Taddeus Nkeng.

Stade now join Egyptian challengers Al Ahly and title-holders Pyramids as the third confirmed quarter-finalist. Notably, these three distinct clubs are the only participants currently still boasting unbeaten records in Africa's premier competition this year.