CAIRO: Al-Ahly of Egypt launches their challenge for a record third consecutive African Champions League title at Highlanders of Zimbabwe Sunday.
It is one of 15 second round, first leg qualifiers scheduled for this weekend with the fixture between Fello Star of Guinea and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia postponed due to civil unrest in Conakry.
Cairo-based Ahly boast a 100 percent record against Zimbabwean opposition, overcoming Dynamos 6-2 in Harare and Highlanders 4-1 in Bulawayo in other two-leg second round encounters.
While five-time African champions Ahly had a first round bye this year, Highlanders needed a penalty shootout to eliminate modest Pamplemousses SC from Mauritius. The Egyptians will lack the pivotal figures of their last two successes – injured midfielders Mohamed Barakat and Mohamed Aboutrika – for the match at the 30,000-seat Barbourfields Stadium in the southern city.
But Portuguese coach Manuel Jose has a wealth of talent to choose from, including international strikers Emad Moteab and Flavio Amado, a star when Angola made their World Cup finals debut last year in Germany.
And being the dominant force in Egypt and Africa for several years has not diminished the hunger of the Red Devils for glory as they lifted the African Super Cup a record-equalling third time in mid-February.
There will be seven other former champions in action – FAR Rabat and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, ASEC of Ivory Coast, Esperance of Tunisia, JS Kabylie of Algeria, TP Mazembe of Democratic Republic of Congo and Zamalek of Egypt.
Only 1994 winners Esperance enjoy home advantage first and limited Zanaco of Zambia could struggle to contain the Blood and Gold strike force of Aymen Letaif and Moroccan Hicham Aboucherouane in Tunis.
The experienced duo claimed five of the six goals that dismantled Renaissance of Chad in the first of three qualifying rounds before the 3, 5-million-dollar phase of the annual competition kicks in.
However, both were overshadowed in the initial round by DR Congo striker Mputu Mabi of Mazembe, whose five goals ensured a comfortable passage past Police of Botswana. Mazembe, first of only three clubs to successfully defend the premier African title, visit unpredictable Adema of Madagascar, whose three-goal triumph over ANSE Reunion in the Seychelles followed a goalless home draw.
After preparing to meet AS Douanes of Senegal, Wydad now face Stade Malien of Mali in Bamako because the Dakar club was disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. The match marks the first international test for new Wydad coach Ladislas Lozano from France after Portuguese predecessor Jose Romao quit to protest the transfer of goalkeeper Nader Lamyaghri to a United Arab Emirates club.
FAR tackle AshantiGold of Ghana, who qualified with home and away victories over Renacimiento of Equatorial Guinea, the surprise packets of the second-tier African Confederation Cup last year.
ASEC must overcome the loss to Norway of leading scorer Didier Ya Konan when they embark on another African campaign away to FC Kallon, a Sierra Leone club who take their name from owner and Monaco striker Mohamed Kallon.
Kallon shocked Ocean Boys of Nigeria in the previous round and are set to be awkward opponents for the young, strong and skilful Mimosas , at least in Freetown.
Zamalek will be happy to dodge defeat against Al-Hilal of Sudan in often steamy Omdurman while Kabylie visit Franceville in south-eastern Gabon for a clash with another shock first round victor, Mangasport.
