Pitso susses out the competition
AS MAMELODI Sundowns begin their CAF Champions League group stage campaign tomorrow, Tshepang Mailwane looks at their opponents and what coach Pitso Mosimane knows about them. ES SETIF (Algeria) Champions League history
The Algerians have won this competition twice – in 1988 (as the African Cup of Champions) and in 2014. They have reached the group stages on three occasions in their history. Road to the group stages
A 5-3 aggregate victory over Etoile du Congo in the first round is how they got their campaign underway. The away goals rule helped them secure a place in the group stages, following a 22 draw against Al-Merrikh in Sudan in the second round. Key player: Eudes Dagoulou is their top scorer in the competition with four goals. Mosimane says: “They’ve changed their coach, who might bring in a new system, so we will see. They move the ball quick and they do not dribble. They are a threat at set pieces and they are organised.” ENYIMBA (Nigeria) Champions League history
The Nigerians were crowned back-to-back champions in 2003 and 2004. They were semi-finalists in 2008 and 2011. Road to the group stages
They beat Ugandan club Vipers 2-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round and then hammered Burundian outfit Vital’O FC 6-3 over two legs in the first round. They needed a penalty shoot-out to knock out Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel in the second round. Key player: Mfon Udoh has scored seven goals in the competition so far. Mosimane says: “West African football is slow, but physical. So we need to make sure we are on par with them.” ZAMALEK (Egypt) Champions League history
The only club more successful than Zamalek in this competition is Al Ahly. Zamalek have won the competition on five occasions, their last title coming in 2002. They’ve been runners-up once, in 1994. Road to the group stages
The Egyptian giants got off to a flyer with a 3-0 aggregate victory over Cameroonian club Union Douala in the first round. A 3-1 aggregate victory over MO Bejaia from Algeria in the second round confirmed their spot in the group stages. Key player: Goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy has conceded just one goal in the tournament. Mosimane says: “They play the same football as Setif. I have seen that they have brought in about five new players, but their system will remain the same.”