Orange CAF Champions League Previews

After an entertaining first round of matches in the Orange CAF Champions League group stage, the second round matches are set for this Saturday and Sunday with four games on the schedule.

In Group A, composed of defending champions TP Mazembe (RD Congo) 3 pts, Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) 3 pts, Entente Setif (Algeria) 0 pts and Dynamos FC (Zimbabwe) 0 pts; Algeria’s Entente Setif, after losing 0-1 at home to ES Tunis, travel to Lubumbashi (RD Congo) on a risky adventure to play against The Crows, who beat Dynamos in Harare two weeks ago.

The Algerians will be counting on their sturdy defensive play to first withstand the unrelenting reigning champions, and then strive to mine for three points before an ebullient Congolese public – not impossible but fearfully improbable. The encounter is slated for Sunday at 17:30 CET at the 30,000-seater Lubumbashi Municipal Stadium. Our prediction: TP Mazembe 2-1 Entente Setif.

Just like Entente Setif, Zimbabwe’s Dynamos FC, handicapped by a home loss in round one, move up north to jam another solid formation Esperance de Tunis, whose bag is already bloated with three points from their first match. Tunisia’s Blood and Golds should be careful not to waste an opportunity to consolidate their second position ahead of an impending showdown with the current leaders TP Mazembe, who, reports say, are out to preserve their title.

The match will be held at the 45,000-seater Stade El Menzah in Tunis at 20:30 CET on Saturday. Our prediction: Esperance Tunis 3-1 Dynamos FC.

Group B consists of JS Kabylie (Algeria) 3 pts, Al Ahly (Egypt) 1 pt, Heartland (Nigeria) 1 pt and Ismaily (Egypt) 0 pts; 2009 finalists Heartland, who missed an opportunity to seal a home victory against Al Ahly in their first match, will be visiting the group’s leaders JS Kabylie in a tense clash where the Nigerians will try to revive their momentum against an Algerian side eager to double their points tally at home.

Heartland strikers Bello Koformata and John Owoeri will have to be highly inspired to surpass the Algerians’ stone defence in a 'no mercy' clash that will give new coach Samson Siasia another opportunity to improve his credibility rating at home and abroad.

Our prediction: J S Kabylie 2-1 Heartland. The match kicks off at 19:00 CET on Saturday at the 22,000-seater Stade 1er Novembre in Tizi Ouzou.

The all-Egyptian clash of the weekend, involving six-time African champions Al Ahly and north-western top flight club Ismaily, takes place at the 74,000-seater Cairo Stadium with Al Ahly playing host. Al Ahly managed to obtain one point from their first match while Ismaily lost at home to J S Kabylie.

Al Ahly should seize this home ground opportunity to build on their lone point before their next travels, but knowing that another loss would jeopardise their continental campaign, Ismaily will dig it all out at a stadium and before a public they are familiar with as well.

Our prediction: Ah Ahly 1-0 Ismaily. The match kicks of at 20:30 on Sunday.