Bumpy rides await African giants
RECORD eight-time title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt are among 10 former winners who qualified for the 2018 Caf Champions League, which begins this weekend with preliminary round first legs.
Defending champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco and five-time winners TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo are other powerful outfits in the 59-club field.
After a bye, Wydad launch their title defence against Stade Malien of Mali or newcomers Williamsville of the Ivory Coast, neither of whom look likely giant-killers.
There are also five teams who have won other Caf competitions, making it one of the strongest lineups in the 54-year history of the leading African club competition.
Here we look at what lies in store at the qualifying stage for eight clubs capable of becoming champions and pocketing $2.5-million (R30.2-million).
Al Ahly (Egypt) – After a preliminary-round bye, the 2017 runners-up captained by goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy should eliminate Kadiogo of Burkina Faso or Mounana of Gabon and secure entry to the lucrative group stage.
Esperance (Tunisia) – It would be a stunning turnup if the 1994 and 2011 champions fell to Concorde of Mauritania or the winners between Gor Mahia of Kenya and Leones Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea.
Mamelodi Sundowns – Percy Tau stars in a multinational squad seeking a second title in three years and it is difficult to imagine Rayon Sports of Rwanda or LLB Academic of Burundi stopping them.
TP Mazembe (DR Congo) – Although only the winners between weak sides Ngaya of the Comoros and Songo of Mozambique stand between Mazembe and the group stage, they will be wary after failing to qualify for the past two seasons.
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) – Having axed coach Hussein Amoutta over poor domestic form and sold star scorer Achraf Bencharki, the two-time champions are set to meet 2009 Confederation Cup winners Stade Malien with a group place on the line. Caf Champions League preliminary round first leg fixtures this weekend
Saint George (Eth) v Wau Salaam (SSD), CNaPS Sport (Mad) v KCCA (Uga), Zanaco (Zambia) v Armed Forces (Gam), Bantu (Les) v Mbabane Swallows (SWZ), Stade Malien (MLI) v Williamsville (Civ), Al Tahaddy (Lba) v Aduana Stars (Gha), Entente Setif (Alg) v Olympic Real Bangui (Car), Kadiogo (Burkina) v Mounana (Gab), Real Bamako (MLI) v MFM (Ngr), Otoho (Congo) v Mouloudia Alger (Algeria), AS FAN (Nig) v Horoya (Gui), Generation Foot (Sen) v Misr Lel-Makkasa (Egy), Young Africans (Tan) v Saint Louis (Sey), Township Rollers (Bot) v Al Merrikh (Sud), Gor Mahia (Ken) v Leones Vegetarianos (Geq), Concorde (MTN) v Esperance (Tun), Plateau Utd (Ngr) v Eding Sport (CMR), Leopards (Cgo) v Port (Tog), LISCR (Lbr) v Al Hilal (Sud), JKU (Zan) v Zesco Utd (Zam), Buffles Borgou (BenN) v ASEC Mimosas (Civ), Ngaya (Com) v Songo (Moz), Difaa el Jadidi (Mar) v Benfica (GNB), V Club (Cod) v Mighty Wanderers (Maw), Primeiro Agosto (Ang) v Platinum (Zim), Wits (SA) v Pamplemousses (Mri), Rayon Sports (Rwa) v LLB Academic (BDI).
First legs: February 9-11. —