ACL reaches group stages

15 July 2011

The group stage of the 2011 African Champions League gets under way in what looks to be a very open competition this year.

Egyptian giants Al Ahly may be considered favourites among the final eight side, but their slow demise in recent seasons has mirrored that of the Egyptian national side and even their coach, Manuel Jose, has come out this week to say there is “no chance” his side can lift the trophy this season.

It might be all mind games, or it might be an honest assessment from a coach who has won the title four times before, all with the Red Devils.

They start their Group B campaign against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca, who reached this stage via a 3-0 win over Tanzanian side Simba in a play-off match last month.

Wydad were champions of this competition in its previous incarnation in 1992, but since the tournament format was changed to include the group stage, they have never reached the round robin portion of the Champions League.

Wydad have a relatively new coach in Swiss national Michel Decastel, who had a spell in charge of Ahly’s great Cairo rivals Zamalek in 2009.

Tunisian side Esperance reached the final in 2010 before they were beaten by DR Congo side TP Mazembe and they must be considered among the potential winners this year.

They won the Tunisian League last weekend and are on a high as they prepare top travel to Algerian side MC Alger, who are in some disarray after agreeing to part ways with their coach Noureddine Zekri.

Zekri could only lead the club to 10th in the recently completed Algerian League, a dismal showing from the side.

Ahly and Esperance should have too much experience in this pool and should make the semifinals.

Group A looks a lot more open and any one of the four sides are potential Last 4 candidates.

Moroccans Raja Casablanca take on 2008 African Champions League runners-up CotonSport in a match too tight to call.

Coton fell away after the heroics of their 2008 campaign, but have bounced back in 2011 with commanding performances in the continental competition, as well as the domestic Cameroon domestic league, where they are a shoe-in for the title.

Homeground advantage could be key for Raja, but Coton are not bad travellers and will provide stern opposition.

The second match in the pool on Sunday is another tight one. Nigerian side Enyimba host Sudanese side Al Hilal, who were semifinalists in this competition in 2007 and 2009.

They have pedigree and although Enyimba are very tough to beat in Nigeria, few would argue that there is at least a point for the taking for Al Hilal.

The pair met in the group stages three years ago and Enyimba won this tie 4-1, but Al Hilal are a better side no they were then, and it should not be forgotten they won the reverse fixture 3-2.