f Egypt’s Zamalek win their
postponed first-round tie and
advance, as expected, it will mean
that 11 of the 16 protagonists in
the group phase of this season’s
African Champions League have
won the trophy before.
That represents a formidable field going in search
of the continent’s top club prize and the potential of
a titanic tussle for the trophy, with the Final in May.
The group phase kicks off at the end of November
and the headline story will be the bid by Tunisia’s
Esperance, for so long a perennial bridesmaid, to lift
the trophy for an unprecedented third year in a row.
Last season’s success came after a boardroom
battle, and a slap down for CAF, after Esperance’s
opponents, Wydad of Casablanca, walked off the
pitch in a protest over a refereeing decision in the
second leg of the Final.
Esperance were eventually declared champions,
but only after CAF had bizarrely ordered the game to
be replayed and the Tunisians took the matter to CAS.
Wydad, astonishingly, were only fined for their
petulance and are participating in the Champions
League again, when by rights they should be banned.
The Moroccan club were winners in 2017 and,
although they have frequently changed coaches
since, they have kept the core of their team and
will again be considered among the favourites.
Last season’s two finalists were top seeds when
the draw was made in October, along with Al Ahly
of Egypt and TP Mazembe of the Democratic
Republic of Congo.The group phase goes through until early March
with the top two in each group progressing to the
quarter-finals.
Esperance were drawn in the toughest group, with
Raja of Morocco, Algeria’s JS Kabylie and AS Vita
Club of DR Congo – all past winners – and an early
glimpse of their credentials this time will come away
at Raja on November 29.
Wydad drew old nemesis Mamelodi Sundowns of
South Africa for the fourth successive year and the
pair are likely to be too strong for USM Alger and
Angola’s Petro Atletico in Group C.
Al Ahly’s bid to win a record-extending ninth titlebegins in Group B, where Etoile Sahel of Tunisia,
Sudan’s Al Hilal and rookies FC Platinum of
Zimbabwe should not pose too severe a threat.
The Cairo giants have appointed Rene Weiler,
the Swiss coach formerly with Nuremberg and
Anderlecht, to take charge this season.
Mazembe should also progress with relative ease
past Primeiro Agosto of Angola and Zambia’s ZESCO
United in Group A. The other team is still to be
decided as Zamalek and Senegal’s Generation
Foot had yet to complete their tie before the
draw was conducted.European club competition, with
a goal in Espanyol’s 2-0 victory at
CSKA Moscow.
Friday October 4
NORTHERN IRELAND: Glentoran’s
Darren Murray is sent off against
Cliftonville after ignoring the ref’s
instruction to leave the pitch at the
nearest point on being substituted.
The striker, whose side lost 1-0, was
shown a second yellow card by
Steven Gregg after refusing to
exit on the far side of the ground.
SPAIN: Real Madrid deny keeper
Thibaut Courtois suffered an anxiety
attack at half-time during Tuesday’s
2-2 Champions League draw with
Club Brugge. Courtois, who was
criticised after conceding two goals,
was replaced by Alphonse Areola,
but Real issue a statement stating:
“Our player has never been
diagnosed with an alleged anxiety...
Courtois has been diagnosed and
treated for acute gastroenteritis.”Saturday October 5
CHILE: Esteban Paredes becomes
the all-time top marksman in the
country’s Primera Division, scoring
his 216th goal as Colo Colo beat
Universidad de Chile 3-2.
GERMANY: Four days after their7-2 win at Tottenham Hotspur in
the Champions League, Bayern
Munich suffer their fi rst Bundesliga
defeat of the season, losing 2-1 at
home to Hoffenheim.Sunday October 6
ENGLAND: Playing alongside
his brother Sean and making his
Premier League debut, 19-year-
old Matty Longstaff scores the
only goal of the game as Newcastle
United beat Manchester United.
ITALY: Juventus bring a halt to
Internazionale’s perfect start in
Serie A, winning 2-1 at the San
Siro to overtake their hosts atthe top of the table.
SCOTLAND: Celtic lose 2-1 away at
Livingston and surrender top spot
to Rangers, who beat Hamilton 5-0.
SPAIN: Ronald Araujo is sent off
on his Barcelona debut, along with
team-mate Ousmane Dembele, in
a 4-0 win at home to Sevilla.
USA: With all three goals in Los
Angeles’ 3-1 victory over Colorado
Rapids, Carlos Vela sets a new MLS
record with 34 goals in a campaign.Monday October 7
AUSTRALIA: The Australian PFA
men’s player of the year in 2015,
goalkeeper Mat Ryan becomes onlyBig guns target
more success
Previous winners eye further continental triumphs
I
Wydad are participating
in the Champions League
again, when by rights they
should be banned
CAF Champions League
MARK GLEESON
One-sided...Thapelo Morena
was one of 10 players to score
for Mamelodi Sundowns as
they beat Cote d’Or of the
Seychelles 11-1 in the home
leg of their first-round tie