CAFCL: Al Ahly, Sundowns clash pick of the bunch as action enters matchday 3

Record African champions Al Ahly will be desperate to get their 2022/2023 CAF Champions League campaign on track but have a very tough fixture awaiting them in the third round of the Group Stage action as they host an in form Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday evening in Cairo, Egypt.

The North African giants started their campaign for an 11th CAF Champions League title with defeat away to Al Hilal of Sudan in Omdurman leaving them with a first hurdle to overcome early on.

Heading into the match, which will be a repeat of last season’s group stage match up, Al Ahly will be keen to get their revenge as Sundowns won both home and away legs.

Despite the Red Devils warming up for the grand clash against The Brazilians with a 3-0 thrashing of Aswan in the Egyptian Premier League, a huge challenge awaits them as the Rulani Mokwena led Sundowns have an enviable record of losing only once in their last 24 matches in all competitons.

Their only defeat was a surprise 3-0 spanking at the hands of Orlando Pirates in the MTN8. Since then, they have been on a run of 16 consecutive wins, including two wins in their opening two Group B matches that has seen them top the log on 6 points.

The East African derby

Tanzania’s Simba and Uganda’s Vipers clash under the floodlights at the St. Mary’s Stadium in the outskirts of Kampala on Saturday evening.

Both sides are winless after the first two rounds of matches, and this will be a key and crucial fixture for both of them. The most interesting bit though, will be the return of Brazilian coach Roberto Oliveira to the St. Mary’s Stadium.

The tactician, nicknamed Robertinho, led Vipers to qualification for the group stages for the first time ever, before he left them for Simba in January this year. He will be returning to the club on enemy attire, barely two months later.

Vipers have a point from last weekend’s draw at home against Horoya, while Simba are winless after back to back losses against Horoya and Raja Club Athletic.

Vipers tactician Roberto Bianchi expects a better performance at home from his side, saying he is pleased with the improvement he has seen since their 5-0 drubbing on match day one away to Raja.

The North African affair

Esperance de Tunis will host Egyptian giants Zamalek in Rades, in what is also expected to be a blockbuster tie.

Esperance lead Group D with a maximum six points after back to back 1-0 victories away to Algeria’s CR Belouizdad and at home against AL Merreikh.

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On the other hand, Zamalek have just a single point from their draw against Merreikh while they lost to Algeria’s Belouizdad.

These two sides last met in March 2021, with Esperance winning 1-0 in Cairo. It has however been a balance over the last seven meetings between the two sides, each winning three while one ended in a draw.

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For Zamalek, it will be a crucial encounter to earn three points to keep their campaign on track.

Full Fixtures

Friday

Al-Merreikh vs CR Belouizdad - 1600EAT

Cotonsport vs Al-Hila Omdurman - 1900EAT

Wydad vs Petro Athletico -2200EAT

Saturday

AS Vita Club vs Kabylie -1600EAT

Esperance Tunis vs Zamalek - 1900EAT

Vipers vs Simba - 1900EAT

Al Ahly vs Mamaelodi Sundowns - 2200EAT

Raja Casablanca vs Horoya - 2200EAT

Additional Reporting by CAF.