The unbeaten runs of Al-Ahly and Coton Sport comes under severe threat this weekend as the second round of the group phase of the 2014 Orange CAF Confederation Cup kicks off.
Ahly and Coton Sport rest at the summit of Group B and A, but face stern tests against Ivorian duo, Sewe Sport and ASEC Mimosas in Cairo and Garoua respectively. Whilst Ahly will strengthen their hold on the top spot with the maximum points, Coton Sport can make certain of their place at the last four by snatching the three points at stake.
Fresh from their triumph in the Egyptian League, new Ahly coach Carlos Garrido makes his continental bow in the encounter billed for the Air Defence Stadium on Saturday, against Sewe Sportt, who have drawn all three games at this stage.
Garrido will be hoping to restore smiles on the faces of the teeming fans, who suffered heartbreak after a 2-1 loss to Smouha in the semi-final of the Egyptian Cup clash killed off their hopes of a domestic double.
The Ahly set-up has witnessed series of changes from administrative to technical with former defensive stalwart, Wael Gomaa appointed Director of Football following his retirement last month.
However, the good news for the “Red Devils” is the return to fitness of playmaker Walid Soliman, who will be expected to team up with in-form Amr Gamal and Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan whilst to deliver the passes to veteran Emad Moteab upfront.
The Cairo giants have also been boosted by the presence of veteran midfielder, Hossam Ghaly, who rejoined the club after a stint with Belgian side, Lierse. Ghaly, 33, who was an influential member of the Ahly side that annexed the Orange CAF Champions League crown in 2012, is hoping to guide the seasoned campaigners to the ultimate in the second-tier continental club championship on his third stint.
Sewe held the Egyptians one-all in the previous meeting between the two sides, and look poised to force a bitter pill down the throat of their hosts.
In the Zambian city of Kite, Nkana, still searching for their first win at the mini-league stage will square Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in the other Group B match. The former has appointed Benton Chambeshi as a replacement for former coach, Massauso Mwale, who died in a road accident last May.
At the northern Cameroonian city of Garoua, Coton Sport are favoured to complete a double over ASEC Mimosas, to secure their place for the semis. The Cameroonians have been boosted by the availability of first choice goalkeeper Loic Fedjou and defender Cédric Djeugoué, both members of the Cameroon squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where the Indomitable Lions failed to go past the group stage.
The Ivorians, African champions in 1998, have displayed a modest output this term but coach Siaka Traore insists their ambition for a place at the last four is on course.
“We are mentally prepared because we know what awaits us having played our opponents in Abidjan. In football, everything is possible. Our aim is the semi-final and we will fight with all our strength to get a win in Garoua to increase our chances of qualification,” Traore told the club’s website.
In the other Group A match in Dolisie, AC Leopards will battle it out with AS Real of Mali.
Fixtures
Group A
26/07/2014 Coton Sport (Cameroon) vs ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
27/07/2014 AC Leopards (Congo) vs AS Real (Mali)
Group B
26/07/2014 Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Sewe Sport (Cote d’Ivoire)
26/07/2014 Nkana (Zambia) vs Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
AR-SA
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate