Draw for the the 2017 edition of both CAF CL and CC was held today in Cairo. This season brings new format for both competitions as both will have it's group stage expanded to 16 teams. Champions League draw Preliminary round First round We know that (at least) one team will make it's group stage debut: matchup winner 13 - winner 12 winner will mark it's first participation in that round as none of those teams took part in group stage with only Mozambique had team competing in group stage (Ferroviario de Maputo and Costa do Sol in 1997 and 2002 respectively). CL records and statistics here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afric...d_CAF_Champions_League_records_and_statistics Confederation Cup draw Preliminary round First round First round winners will face CL first round losers in playoff for CC group stage. Both competitions start in mid February.
Mamelodi Sundowns to retain the title. Al ahly knocked out by Bidvest wits in 1st round This new format should be fun
KCCA defeated Angolan champions Primeiro do Agosto 1-0 while Algerian debutant Saoura drew 1-1 with Enugu Rangers. 14 matches tomorrow. In the Confederation Cup, witch started with four matches today, Monrovia Breweries trashed Kabylie 3-0.
Kadiogo of Burkina Faso, Tanda of Cote d'Ivoire, Saint George of Ethiopia all seem to seal qualification to next round of CL. Bidvest Wits disappointed in Reunion as they lost 2-1, but they should progress. In the CC Rayon Sport of Rwanda and Moghreb Fez are practically sure to progress (won 4-0 away and 3-0 at home respectively).
Al Ahli Tripoli and Young Africans sealed the deal after first 90 minutes with away 3-1 and 5-1 wins. Huge win for Barrack of Liberia too, they take 1-0 lead to Mali. I'd love to see them through to the group stage.
After today's matches we have few known first round meetings. Tanda of Ivory Coast will face Etoile of Tunis, Bidvest somehow managed to defeat St. Louisienne to book ticket to face continent's biggest club Al-Ahly. Madagascar champions CNaPS will face Cameroonian Coton Sport.
Just a little note. Yesterday the CAF super cup was played and Mamelodi Sundowns beat TP Mazembe 1- 0. Mazembe missed a glorious chance early on to go 1- 0 up but struck the post twice. The second half was all Sundowns and should have been at least 3 or 4 goal to good. All in all good game. Now Sundowns are for real the undisputed champions of Africa
Champions League First round is now set. My picks are: USM, Rivers, Tanda, Esperance, FUS, Mamelodi, Wydad, Zanaco, Stade Malien, Zamalek, Vita, Coton Sport, Al-Ahly, TP, Saint George, Al-Hilal. Gambia Ports and Port-Louis are biggest surprises in Preliminary round. There will be at least two teams making their debuts: winner of Al-Ahli Tripoli - FUS and winner of Ferroviario - Stade Malien.
LOL. Everyone on Twitter were reporting Stade Malien progressed after penalties but this morning I see Barrack Young Controllers actually defeated Mali side 7-6 and progressed to First round. So, both Malian sides are out. Unbelievable. #africa So, it is Ferroviario Beira - Barrack Young Controllers clash for elite competition berth.
Wits really underperformed and underestimated their preliminary round opponents by sending a weakened team in the first leg. Then they had to flex their might back home to win 3-1 and qualify. Now al ahly waits but wits, if playing at their usual best, should win seeing as the second leg is in South Africa. South Africans know al ahly well and in recent history Al ahly struggle against SA teams. History doesnt play football however. It should be a good tie. Sundown probably will kill the tie off in the first leg in their respective game.
My picks are: USM Alger, Al Merrikh, Etoile du Sahel, Esperance, FUS Rabat, Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad Casablanca, Zanaco, Barrack Young Controllers, Enugu Rangers, As Vita, Cotton Sport, Bidvest Wits, TP Mazembe, AC Leopards, Al Hilal
The CAF Champions League stage will be unreal. From now onwards. Just think of the teams that are not around. If only CAF can begin putting effort in marketing this thing
Al Ahly struggle against no African teams. This blip is a hangover from lack of League Football a few years back that affected their pockets and have had to sell players like Sobhy, Trezeguet and Evouna.
Al ahly really aren't the force they used to be. They are a very beatable team. Definitely South African club football is arguably the best on the continent as has at the very least matched the level of Egyptian teams. Just like Tunisian teams. Egypt has waned for whatever reason while other teams got stronger. Let's see what happens in Al Ahly vs Bidvest Wits tie... Number 1 of Egypt vs No 2 of SA last season.
CAF really need to market this tournament. It's such a sleeping giant of success. But unless some changes happen with regards to CAF presidency, nothing will change.
CAF has prioritized national team tournaments. The only other big Confederation (maybe also CONCACAF) to do so. The big leagues should even have more teams in
I don't want to say or deny about South Africa being the best. A lot has changed to allow this. Tunisia and Egypt teams simply don't have the money they had anymore because of fan limits/bans. This has been going on for half a decade. ** Also, these Tunisian and Egyptian clubs support other sports which don't generate revenue so you can see how thin they are spread. You only need to look at their squads now and bacl then or see how many of their players are moving abroad- this was not normal especially losing players to Gulf countries. *** In their place, Algeria and South Africa have come strong. I am happy to see South Africa excited about CAF though.
First legs are behind us. Rivers, Etoile du Sahel, Al-Hilal each won 3-0 at home, Zamalek won 4-1, Ferroviario and Al-Ahly Tripoli each won 2-0 and all of them find themselves in great position before away matches. Rivers, Ferro and Al-Ahly will mark their debuts if they qualify. St. George of Ethiopia won 1-0 at Leopards in Congo and is so close to secure historic group stage appearance. CAPS United played to a 1-1 draw at best team (according coefficients) of the continent, TPM, while KCCA looks to win 1-0 against title holders to qualify. Really exciting season ahead of us! In the Confederation Cup, Club Africain won 9-1 while Sfax fon 5-0. Four Tunisian clubs scored 20 goals this weekend, amazing. Only away team that did not lose was JS Kabylie who drew 0-0 at Etoile du Congo. Return legs are scheduled for this weekend.
Al Ahly with a slender 1-0 win at home to Bidvest wits. Wits are very strong at home but Al Ahly are no easy opponent! Sundowns won 2-1 against KCCA but really should have won by a bigger margin. They look abit fatigued and the match in Kampala will be tough but Sundowns will look to cancel out the away goal of KCCA to end the tie.
All it takes is a Youtube channel which one CAF staffer can do in his/her spare time. They're already filming the matches. Hell, I could do this for them... they wouldn't even have to pay me. Just send me match footage and I'll chop and edit it myself. Or we could all just split the job up between ourselves... ...calling CAF... I was happy to see Nigeria start to do this last year and simultaneously showcase an improved product, however the channel seems to have gone dark outside of a handful of non-match videos this year... here's hoping...
So Sundowns leave it late in Kampala after trailing KCCA 1-0 for most of the game , super sub Anthony Laffor scored in the 80th minute to make it 1-1 and seal qualification into the group stage. 3-2 on aggregate to Sundowns . They made a meal of this tie. Tomorrow is Wits and Al Ahly, big one.