Esperance heads all-north africa cl group

Two time winners Esperance of Tunisia will have to overcome an all- North African group if they are to add a third title in this year’s Orange CAF Champions League. The draw for the 2014 group stage of the continent’s premier inter-club competition conducted in Cairo (Tuesday 29 April) produced fascinating encounters. Recently retired Egyptian international and reigning African Player of the Year based in Africa, Mohamed Abou-Trika was at CAF HQ to assist Secretary General, Hicham El Amrani to do the draw.

Abou-Trika the Al Ahly legend picked out fellow Egyptian side, Zamalek to be in group A where the, five-time winners of the competition will meet two DR Congo sides, TP Mazembe and AS Vita as well as Sudanese giants, Al Hilal. But an equally intriguing contest has been set up in group B where former Dutch star, Ruud Krol now in charge at Esperance will face his last paymasters in CS Sfaxien, a side he led to last year’s Confederation Cup victory. The two derbies in both groups will surely light up the competition and to add to the drama, most of group B action might be played  in the country of Tunisia should Libyan side Al Ahli Benghazi continue using Tunisia as for their home fixtures as they did in the qualifiers. But with Benghazi set to face two Tunisian sides, it remains to be seen if they will choose another country for their home games else 5 of their 6 games will be in Tunisia and the only away trip be next door in Algeria against Entente Setif.  

Predicting likely semi-finalists is difficult this year in a shock-riddled competition, but Esperance, Sfaxien, Mazembe and Zamalek appear the strongest quartet.    Each side plays their three rivals home and away between mid-May and late August with group winners and runners-up advancing to the semi-finals.  The winners of the two-leg final pocket $1.5 million (1.1 million euros) and a place at the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco during December.

Zamalek are the most successful of the eight qualifiers, although the last triumph of the Cairo White Knights in the competition was 12 years ago.    They eliminated Nigeriens Douanes, Angolans Kabuscorp and Zambians Nkana in qualifiers and veteran goalkeeper Abdel Wahed El-Sayed has not conceded a goal in six matches.

Mazembe have four titles and are back in the group stage after a shock early exit last year against South Africans Orlando Pirates.    Guided by France-born former mali coach Patrice Carteron, the Ravens from mining city Lubumbashi had a mixed passage.    After easily overcoming Cameroonians Astres Douala, they needed an away goal to squeeze past Ivorians Sewe San Pedro.

 Esperance have lifted the trophy twice, most recently in 2011, and boast the joint leading Champions League scorer this season in six-goal Haythem Jouini.   The Blood and Gold were far too good for Kenyans Gor Mahia and Malians Real Bamako and are among the title favourites.

Setif and Vita have been African champions once, but some of their players were not born when those triumphs occurred.    Vita won the 1973 title, when the competition was far less demanding, and Setif succeeded 15 years later under the former knockout-only format.

Setif share with Zamalek the distinction of not conceding a goal in this campaign as they eliminated Burkinabe ASFA Yennenga and Cameroonians Coton Sport.   Vita had the toughest passage of the eight qualifiers — overcoming Nigerians Kano Pillars, Zimbabweans Dynamos and South Africans Kaizer Chiefs.

 Hilal have been Champions League runners-up twice and Sfaxien once while Benghazi are group debutants after shocking title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt last month. The Sudanese ousted Malians Stade Malien and Congolese AC Leopards while Sfaxien comfortably disposed of Ethiopians Dedebit and Guineans Horoya, winning home and away in each round.

Zimbabwean Edward Sadomba has been a consistent scorer as Benghazi defeated Chadians Foullah Edifice and Ghanaians Berekum Chelsea before defeating Ahly twice.

  

Confederation of African Football (CAF) News