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Heartland FC2 : 1
TP Mazembe 
TP Mazembe0 : 2
Al Hilal 
Kano Pillars0 : 1
Heartland FC
Al Hilal2 : 5
TP Mazembe
Heartland FC4 : 0
Kano Pillars
TP Mazembe1 : 0
ES Sahel 
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 NEWSCAF Champions League: An open contest more than ever 07-02-2009
The thirteenth edition of the Champions League is expected to be different from the previous editions as all favourites have been eliminated before the group stages. Al Ahly who have reached the last four finals are out and only Etoile du Sahel can boast of a good record. If one were to ask the favourites of the competition after Ahly, the answer will logically be Etoile du Sahel of Sousse. Taking into consideration all competitions on the continental scene, the Tunisian side are ranked next to the Cairo giants, Al Ahly. The Sousse-based outfit won the Champions League in 2007 and also played the finals in 2004 and 2005. It’s two Cup Winners’ Cup titles, three CAF Cup titles and two Super Cups places the club in another level of the African game with no contender. TP Mazembe of Lubumbashi will be their staunchest rival. The Congolese side dominated African football in the 1960s and played in four consecutive finals of the defunct Champions Cup, now Champions League. The club has what it takes to win the competition with the bulk of its players having formed the base of the DR Congo side that won the inaugural edition of the CHAN in Cote d’Ivoire. The two sides will clash in Group B. In Group A, the focus will be on the eternal rivalry between two of Sudan’s top clubs, Al Merreikh and Al Hilal. Their rivalry can only be compared to that between Al Ahly and Zamalek all of Cairo, ASEC and Africa Sports in Abidjan, or Raja and WAC all of Casablanca. The clash between the two Sudanese sides shall be full emotions and firepower. This can be of benefit to the two other clubs in the group, Zesco United of Ndola, Zambia and Kano Pillars of Nigeria. The Zambians recently created sensation on the national team and has joined the league of elite clubs in Africa just as Power Dynamos, Nkana Red Devils, Green Buffaloes, Mufulira Wanderers and Kabwe Warriors which represented the country honourably in continental club competitions. Nigeria has been trying to find a team to move in the shadow of Enyimba which won the Champions League title in 2003 and 2004. The country can count on two teams, Kano Pillars, that won its first championship and Heartland FC, which came as runners up in the same championship. Heartland formerly Iwuanyanwu National of Owerri, was the dominant Nigerian side on the African scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The last team in the group stages is Monomotapa FC of Zimbabwe. The relatively unknown club eliminated ASEC Mimosas Abidjan on its way tot he group stages and must be taken seriously. The question is who shall replace Ahly of Cairo as kings of African football? The answer will unfold in the few months ahead. |
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