Al Ahly have the chance to take control of their CAF
Confederation Cup group when they visit 2006 winners Etoile Sahel on Sunday.
The Egyptian side, who have won the CAF Champions League
a record eight times, dropped into the Confederation Cup after suffering a
surprise defeat in the second qualifying round of the Africa's premier club competition
against Al-Ahli Benghazi.
But Al Ahly have recovered from that disappointment and
opened their Confederation Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Group B
rivals Nkana last week.
Fathi Mabrouk's men were the only team to taste victory
in the opening round of the group games, and can put themselves in pole
position for a semi-final berth by replicating that feat.
But in Sahel they will face a side that has considerable
pedigree in the competition having tasted glory eight years ago and reached the
final in 2008.
The Tunisian side did not get past the group stage of
last season's competition, though, and will need to improve on their showing in
the 1-1 draw against Sewe Sport last Sunday if they are to boost their chances
of doing so this time around.
Meanwhile, Ivorian champions Sewe Sport travel to Nkana
with ambitions of bolstering their prospects of reaching the latter stages of a
major competition following elimination from the Champions League in the group
stages in 2013.
The qualification picture in Group B could become much
clearer by the end of the weekend, however, Group A remains wide open with two
teams still to play their matches of the group campaign.
Leopards de Dolisie's opening match with Cotonsport was
postponed due to the amount of players called-up for Congo's Africa Cup of
Nations qualifier with Namibia.
Joseph Omog's Leopards side now take on ASEC Mimosas, who
drew 1-1 with Real Bamako last Saturday, in Ivory Coast, but it is Cotonsport
who are likely to be the favourites to win the group.
The Cameroonian outfit reached the semi-finals of last
year's Champions League, but suffered the same fate as Al Ahly by exiting the
2014 competition early on.
Still, Cotonsport should be expected to start the group
stage with a victory in front of their home fans against Bamako.
Culled from Soccerway
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