The 2011 Orange CAF Champions League kick starts this weekend with the preliminary round of matches, but it is the away encounters involving four former champions that tops the billing.
Five-time winners Zamalek of Egypt, Nigeria’s Enyimba, Club Africain of Tunisia and MC Algers of Algeria begin their campaigns with away clashes against Kenya’s Ulinzi Stars, Saint Michel of Congo, Rwanda champions APR and Real de Bangui of Central African Republic respectively.
For a competition synonymous with surprises, the giants face uphill tasks in their quest to cement their place amongst the top brass of African club football, against clubs eyeing similar ambitions in the not too distant future.
With off-colour performances in the recent past, the quartet have been afforded yet another opportunity to make a claim for their place on the ladder with their eyes fixed on halting the dominance of DR Congo outfit, TP Mazembe.
Zamalek, who last tasted continental glory in 2002 appear to be on a renaissance backed by stellar performances in the Egyptian league under the technical guidance of former Pharaohs captain Hossam Hassan.
Sitting atop the standings after the first halve of the season, the White Knights look a tall mountain for the Kenyan debutants, who stunned all to emerge champions in their local championships last season. Zamalek look impregnable with star player Shikabala at his best this season and certainly the clash will bring Nairobi to a standstill.
Despite being the underdogs, Benjamin Nyangwese, head coach of Kenya military team have rated his charges high and insist upsetting the Cairo giants is not above their limit.
“On the pitch it would be 11 against 11. So we cannot be cowed by Zamalek, despite their pedigree and rich history in the sport. This will be a different ball game and we are ready for the challenge.
“On Saturday, we will go for nothing less than a win, then hope for a draw when we travel to Cairo for the return leg two weeks later,” Nyangwese told Cafonline.com.
Whilst the quartet are battling away from their bases, three others namely; ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire and Moroccan duo, Raja Athletic Casablanca and Wydad Athletic Club will be at home to ASC Snim (Mauritania), Tourbillon (Chad) and debutants Aduana Stars (Ghana) respectively.
In other matches, AS FAN of Niger face Ivorian side JCAT in Niamey, Gabonese champions Union Sportive de Bitam slug it out Astres Douala of Cameroon, East End Lions of Sierra Leone versus Djoliba of Mali whilst Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf lock horns with Port Authority of Gambia.
Elsewhere, AS PAC of Benin will be at home to DVO Mongomo of Equatorial Guinea, Motor Action of Zimbabwe battles it out with Cnaps Sports of (Madagascar) whilst Elan Club de Mitsoudje engage Tanzania’s Simba.
Perennial contenders Saint George of Ethiopia trek downsouth to face Recreativo Caala of Angola, Liberia’s Mighty Barolle versus Kano Pillars of Nigeria, Fello Star of Guinea face AS Yennenga of Burkina Faso whilst former losing finalist Coton Sport of Cameroon play as guests of Vital’ O of Burundi.
South African champions, Supersport United will face fellows Matlama of Lesotho, Young Buffaloes of Swaziland against St Michel of Seychelles whilst Zambia’s Zesco United face Liga Desportiva of Mozambique in Lusaka.
A total of 44-clubs will be involved in action in the preliminary round whilst holders Mazembe and eight others namely; E.S.S. (Algeria), Al Ahly (Egypt), Ittihad (Libya), Stade Malien (Mali), Hilal (Sudan), Merrikh (Sudan), E.S.T. (Tunisia) and Dynamos (Zimbabwe) drew a bye.
The second leg matches is scheduled for 11-13 February with winners advancing to the 1/16th round.
ZoomFive-time winners Zamalek of Egypt, Nigeria’s Enyimba, Club Africain of Tunisia and MC Algers of Algeria begin their campaigns with away clashes against Kenya’s Ulinzi Stars, Saint Michel of Congo, Rwanda champions APR and Real de Bangui of Central African Republic respectively.
For a competition synonymous with surprises, the giants face uphill tasks in their quest to cement their place amongst the top brass of African club football, against clubs eyeing similar ambitions in the not too distant future.
With off-colour performances in the recent past, the quartet have been afforded yet another opportunity to make a claim for their place on the ladder with their eyes fixed on halting the dominance of DR Congo outfit, TP Mazembe.
Zamalek, who last tasted continental glory in 2002 appear to be on a renaissance backed by stellar performances in the Egyptian league under the technical guidance of former Pharaohs captain Hossam Hassan.
Sitting atop the standings after the first halve of the season, the White Knights look a tall mountain for the Kenyan debutants, who stunned all to emerge champions in their local championships last season. Zamalek look impregnable with star player Shikabala at his best this season and certainly the clash will bring Nairobi to a standstill.
Despite being the underdogs, Benjamin Nyangwese, head coach of Kenya military team have rated his charges high and insist upsetting the Cairo giants is not above their limit.
“On the pitch it would be 11 against 11. So we cannot be cowed by Zamalek, despite their pedigree and rich history in the sport. This will be a different ball game and we are ready for the challenge.
“On Saturday, we will go for nothing less than a win, then hope for a draw when we travel to Cairo for the return leg two weeks later,” Nyangwese told Cafonline.com.
Whilst the quartet are battling away from their bases, three others namely; ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire and Moroccan duo, Raja Athletic Casablanca and Wydad Athletic Club will be at home to ASC Snim (Mauritania), Tourbillon (Chad) and debutants Aduana Stars (Ghana) respectively.
In other matches, AS FAN of Niger face Ivorian side JCAT in Niamey, Gabonese champions Union Sportive de Bitam slug it out Astres Douala of Cameroon, East End Lions of Sierra Leone versus Djoliba of Mali whilst Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf lock horns with Port Authority of Gambia.
Elsewhere, AS PAC of Benin will be at home to DVO Mongomo of Equatorial Guinea, Motor Action of Zimbabwe battles it out with Cnaps Sports of (Madagascar) whilst Elan Club de Mitsoudje engage Tanzania’s Simba.
Perennial contenders Saint George of Ethiopia trek downsouth to face Recreativo Caala of Angola, Liberia’s Mighty Barolle versus Kano Pillars of Nigeria, Fello Star of Guinea face AS Yennenga of Burkina Faso whilst former losing finalist Coton Sport of Cameroon play as guests of Vital’ O of Burundi.
South African champions, Supersport United will face fellows Matlama of Lesotho, Young Buffaloes of Swaziland against St Michel of Seychelles whilst Zambia’s Zesco United face Liga Desportiva of Mozambique in Lusaka.
A total of 44-clubs will be involved in action in the preliminary round whilst holders Mazembe and eight others namely; E.S.S. (Algeria), Al Ahly (Egypt), Ittihad (Libya), Stade Malien (Mali), Hilal (Sudan), Merrikh (Sudan), E.S.T. (Tunisia) and Dynamos (Zimbabwe) drew a bye.
The second leg matches is scheduled for 11-13 February with winners advancing to the 1/16th round.
Fixtures
AS Forces Armées Nigeriennes (Niger) v J. C. A. Treichville (Cote d’Ivoire)
Saint Michel de Ouenzé (Congo) v Enyimba FC (Nigeria)
Union Sportive de Bitam (Gabon) v Les Astres de Douala (Cameroon)
O. Real de Bangui (Central Africa) v Moloudia C. d’Alger (Algeria)
East End Lions FC (Sierra Leone) v Djoliba (Mali)
ASC Les Jaraafs (Senegal) v Gambia Ports A. (Gambia)
AS Forces Armées Nigeriennes (Niger) v J. C. A. Treichville (Cote d’Ivoire)
Saint Michel de Ouenzé (Congo) v Enyimba FC (Nigeria)
Union Sportive de Bitam (Gabon) v Les Astres de Douala (Cameroon)
O. Real de Bangui (Central Africa) v Moloudia C. d’Alger (Algeria)
East End Lions FC (Sierra Leone) v Djoliba (Mali)
ASC Les Jaraafs (Senegal) v Gambia Ports A. (Gambia)
ASPAC FC (Benin) v DVO. Mongomo (Equatorial Guinea)
Asec Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) v ASC SNIM –Cansando (Mauritania)
Motor Action F. C. (Zimbabwe) V Cnaps Sports (Madagascar)
Asec Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) v ASC SNIM –Cansando (Mauritania)
Motor Action F. C. (Zimbabwe) V Cnaps Sports (Madagascar)
Raja Club Athlétic (Morocco) v Tourbillon (Chad)
Unlinzi Stars Football (Kenya) v Zamalek (Egypt)
APR FC (Rwanda) v Club Africain (Tunisia)
Club Recreativo Caala (Angola) v Saint George (Ethiopia)
Elan Club de Mitsoudjé (Comores) v Simba Sports Club (Tanzania)
Club Recreativo Caala (Angola) v Saint George (Ethiopia)
Elan Club de Mitsoudjé (Comores) v Simba Sports Club (Tanzania)
Mighty Barolle (Liberia) v Kano Pillars (Nigeria)
Widad de Casablanca (Morocco) v Aduana Stars FC (Ghana)
Fello Star de Labe (Guinea) v AS. Faso – Yennega (Burkina Faso)
Widad de Casablanca (Morocco) v Aduana Stars FC (Ghana)
Fello Star de Labe (Guinea) v AS. Faso – Yennega (Burkina Faso)
Vital’O FC (Burundi) v Coton Sport (Cameroon)
Zanzibar Ocean View (Zanzibar) v AS V. Club (DR Congo)
Supersport (South Africa) v Matlama FC (Lesotho)
Young Buffaloes FC (Swaziland) v St. Michel United (Seychelles)
Zesco United (Zambia) v Liga Desportiva M. (Mozambique)
Young Buffaloes FC (Swaziland) v St. Michel United (Seychelles)
Zesco United (Zambia) v Liga Desportiva M. (Mozambique)
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