The quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup served up drama both on and off the pitch — but the headlines weren't just about tactics, triumphs, or goals.
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Instead, ugly scenes marred the post-match atmosphere in three out of four clashes involving South African teams and their North African counterparts.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates both managed to edge past their opponents — Esperance and MC Alger respectively — with hard-fought 1-0 aggregate wins.
Yet their reward was not just a ticket to the semi-finals, but also scenes of violence and hostility that have sadly become far too familiar in these encounters.
From projectiles hurled at players to altercations between club officials and opposition staff, these incidents raise a critical question: is this unbridled passion from North African fans and clubs — or blatant hooliganism that has no place in the modern game?
These are not isolated incidents.
In Morocco, Wydad Athletic coach Rulani Mokwena was infamously pelted with rocks after a match, one of which he took into the post-match press conference to underline the severity of what his team endured.
That rock became a symbol of the environment South African clubs are often subjected to on the continent — hostility, violence, and intimidation.
It's an issue that extends beyond mere crowd trouble.
There's an increasing sense that when North African giants are beaten — especially by rising Southern forces like the Buccaneers and the Brazilians — some factions simply cannot handle it. The entitlement bred from years of dominance seems to manifest in violent reactions rather than introspection or respect for the opposition.
That’s not to say passion doesn’t run high in football — of course it does. But there’s a fine line between fervent support and outright hooliganism, and that line was crossed repeatedly during these quarter-final ties.
CAF will almost certainly issue fines, as is customary.
But does a monetary penalty truly deter well-funded clubs and their unruly fanbases? The evidence suggests otherwise. What’s needed is far greater accountability, stricter stadium bans, and real measures to ensure the safety of players, staff, and officials — particularly when they are visitors in hostile territory.
It’s also no coincidence that many domestic North African league matches are played behind closed doors. If even local games are deemed too volatile for fans, what hope is there for continental matches where tensions are even higher?
Football is called the beautiful game for a reason. It’s a unifier, a cultural celebration, a theatre of hope and excellence. It must not be tainted by those who believe violence is an acceptable reaction to defeat.
So, as we celebrate the success of Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch FC, and coach Fadlu Davids with his Simba SC side for defying the odds and reaching the semi-finals — we must also reflect. If this is what it takes to win in Africa, then the game is at a crossroads.
Passion is welcome — but the violence? That has to stop.
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