CAFCL /CAFCC: African Foes Nigerian Clubs Must Overcome
Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup(CAFCL and CAFCC), Plateau United, MFM FC, Akwa United and Enyimba will resume duties in the competition on Wednesday, here we profiles the four clubs the Nigerian reps will be facing in their respective continental assignments.
ETOILE SPORTIVE DU SAHEL, TUNISIA (Vs Plateau United)
Standing between Nigerian champions and a place in the group stages of the CAF Champions League is one of Africa’s foremost clubside’s, Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia.
The Sousse club have won one CAF Champions League title (2007) and have been runners-up twice in the past. They have also won the CAF Confederation Cup twice, in 2006 and 2015.
On the local scene, the Red and White have battled for supremacy with the likes of Esperance and Club Africain. They last won the title in 2016.
Etoile currently sit in third position in the Tunisia Ligue 1 table with 39 points, five points behind leaders Esperance who still have a game in hand. They head into the game in fine form after edging out title rivals CS Sfaxien 1-0 on the road in their last league game last Thursday.
MC Alger, Algeria
MOULOUDIA CHAADIA D’ ALGER (MC ALGER) , ALGERIA (Vs MFM FC)
MC Alger who are MFM FC’s opponent in the First Round of the CAF Champions League are back in the continent’s biggest club competition this year after last competing in 2011 where they made it to the group stage.
The Dean who were crowned African champions in 1976 made it to the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup last year.
This is also the seventh time they will be taking part in the CAF Champions League.
They edged out Otoho of Congo 9-2 on aggregate in the previous round. After suffering a 2-0 loss in the first leg, the North Africans won the reverse fixture 9-0 at home.
The former African champions currently sit in fourth position in the Algeria Ligue 1 table with 34 points, eight points behind log leaders CS Constantine but have a game in hand.
They played a 2-2 draw with local rivals USM Alger in their last league game.
Al Ittihad, Libya
AL ITTIHAD , LIBYA (Vs Akwa United)
One of Libya’s foremost clubside, Al Ittihad who will be up against Akwa United in the CAF Confederation Cup last featured in the competition in 2011. This is the fifth time they will playing in the competition.
They also have a fair record in the competition having made it to the quarter-finals in 2005 and semi-finals in 2010.
The Al Teeha became the first Libyan club to qualify for the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League in 2007 , where they lost to eventual runners-up Al-Ahly of Egypt (1–0) on aggregate. They also reached the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2010.
On the local scene, their dominance have been curtailed by Al Ahli Tripoli and Al Tahadddi who have won the last three league titles.
Al Ittihad edged out Sahel of Niger 4-0 to get to this stage of the competition.
The preliminary round game against Sahel was the only competitive game they have played in months as the new Libyan Premier League is yet to kick-off.
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ENERGIE FC, BENIN REPUBLIC (Vs Enyimba)
Enyimba’s opponent in the first round of the CAF Champions League, Energie FC of Benin Republic caused a major stir when they eliminated Haifa of Guinea in the Preliminary Round.
They won the first leg 1-0 at the Stade Saint-Louis and scored a late goal to
secure a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.
Energie currently sit in second position in Benin’s Championnat National 12 poinst, four behind leaders Buffles.
They won their last league game 2-1 away to Esae.
