Hunt’s men have a devilish task
Bidvest Wits will have to take down true giants of the continental game if they are to reach the group stages of the 2017 Caf Champions League. Wits play the first leg of their final qualifier for the group stages on Saturday in Cairo against Al-Ahly, a side that has won the top prize in continental club football more often than any other team. The Red Devils are eighttime winners of the Champions League, with their last title coming back in 2013, when they were too good for Orlando Pirates in a two-legged final.
The current Al-Ahly side are rampant in the Egyptian Premier League, unbeaten and seven points clear at the top of table after 20 matches. The team are currently coached by Hossam el Bady, a defender who made well over 100 appearances for the club in the 1970s and 1980s. The Al-Ahly side are mostly made up of local-based players, six of whom were part of the Egypt squad at the recent 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
They do have a West African flavour in attack, however, in the form of Nigerian youth international Junior Ajayi and Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly, who was signed in January for $1 million from Kilmarnock. Ajayi has already spoken of his intentions to win the Champions League with the Red Devils.
“I hope to win the Caf Champions League title, as all newly signed players also hope to lift the trophy, but it needs a great effort,” Ajayi told Al-Ahly’s website.
On paper, Champions League holders Mamelodi Sundowns’ task in reaching the group stages of this year’s edition is far easier.
The Brazilians will play Ugandan side Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in their two-legged final qualifier, with the first leg to be played in Atteridgeville on Friday evening. KCCA did show their mettle in the preliminary round, edging out Angolan side Primeiro de Agosto on the away goals rule. KCCA are in a bullish mood. “There is always pressure especially playing a team like Mamelodi Sundowns, but I’m a believer and I trust in God. As a team, we have really worked hard and that’s why we managed to edge past De Agosto,” said goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan.
Even if Sundowns and Wits lose these ties, they will still be in continental competition this year, as they will drop down into the playoffs for the Caf Confederation Cup group stages. These play-offs could also contain SuperSport United and Platinum Stars – Stars play another Ugandan side Vipers FC for a place in the play-offs, while SuperSport take on Al-Ahly Shendi of Sudan. The first leg of both these games also takes place this weekend.