JOHANNESBURG: Favorites Al Ahly of Egypt and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia face trials by fire this weekend in the African Champions League semi-finals.
Etoile confront Al Hilal of Sudan in Omdurman Friday and Al Ahly continue their challenge for a record third consecutive title against Al Ittihad of Libya in Tripoli Sunday.
Fiery support has played a huge role in the shock success of Hilal and Ittihad – the first time a club from Sudan or Libya has reached the penultimate phase since the premier African club competition was revamped 11 years ago.
The Hilal Stadium is an old-fashioned 35,000-seat venue with virtually no space between the crowd and the pitch, creating the most intimidating atmosphere in the African Champions League this year.
Sudanese supporters roar themselves hoarse backing their heroes in blue and white and goals are greeted by a deafening roar while pieces of paper are set alight in celebration.
Hilal boast a 100 percent home record in Africa this year and a 16-1 goal tally as a mix of Sudanese, Nigerians and a Mozambican coached by Brazilian Ricardo Ferreira wreak havoc against weak, medium and strong opposition.
Polisi of Zanzibar conceded four goals, five-time champions Zamalek of Egypt two, Nasarawa United of Nigeria three, Esperance of Tunisia two, Asec of Ivory Coast two and five-time winners Al Ahly three in hot and humid Omdurman.
And only Asec striker Nafiu Iddrisu managed to score against a Hilal defense magnificently marshaled by giant Sudan international Richard Lado at a ground where Hilal have lost just three of 48 Champions League games.
Mozambican Dario Khan, central partner of Lado, is another star while Nigerian strikers Ezeh Ndubuisi and Kelechi Osunwa have claimed 10 of 21 goals scored en route to the semi-finals.
Etoile are seeking a third final appearance in four years having lost on penalties to Enyimba of Nigeria in 2004 and being outplayed by Al Ahly 12 months later despite adopting hyper cautious tactics even at home.
The Red Devils, a nickname the club from the Tunisian Mediterranean resort of Sousse share with Al Ahly, failed to qualify for the 2006 pool phase only to bounce back this year under French coach Bertrand Marchand.
Success has been built around a defence that conceded just three goals in 10 qualifying and group games while Amine Chermiti and Cape Verdian Gilson Ja Silva form a young, dynamic strike force.
While Hilal have come close several times to reaching the mini-league stage of the 3.5-million-dollar competition, the presence of Ittihad among the last four contenders is nothing less than sensational.
Although they made their debut 40 years ago in a competition formerly called the African Champions Cup, the most popular Libyan football club progressed beyond the first round only once in eight previous attempts.
But under Serb coach Branko Smiljanic, there was a dramatic change this year with victories against Mogas 90 of Benin, ASFNIS of Niger and Etoile of Congo earning a group place.
And home wins over former champions Jeunesse Sportive Kabylie of Algeria and FAR Rabat of Morocco and weakened Etoile Sahel, who they surprisingly held goalless earlier in Tunisia, ensured Ittihad finished second on the standings.
Goalkeeper-cum-captain Samir Aboud, defenders Younes al-Shibani and Osama Hamadi, and striker Salem al-Rewani star in a side that can build patiently or opt for route-one football to the head of huge Guinean striker Alseny Camara.
Al Ahly needed a laboured 2-0 home win over Asec in their final pool fixture to guarantee progress after consecutive losses at Esperance and Hilal proved the club that has dominated Africa for three years was far from invincible.
Losing midfielder Mohamed Shawky to English Premiership club Middlesbrough was a blow, but goalkeeeper Essam al-Hadary, defender Wael Gomaa, midfielder Mohamed Abou Treika and Angola striker Flavio Amado form an impressive spine.
The return matches are scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 6-7 in Sousse and Cairo with the aggregate winners advancing to a two-leg final that offers one million dollars to the victors and an invite to the FIFA Club World Cup.
