أقوي المواجهات :( الهلال VS كانو ) & (المريخ VS زيسكو)

Quote: Sudan’s largest city, Omdurman will be the centre of attraction as the group phase of the CAF Champions League enters the halfway mark this weekend with the day three matches. Omdurman, lying on the Western banks of the River Nile, with a population of over 3 million is also home to Sudan’s biggest clubs, Al-Merrikh and Al-Hilal. Al-Hilal will host Kano Pillars of Nigeria in clash that will prove crucial to determining the winner of Group ‘A’ at the Al-Hilal Stadium in Omdurman, whilst Al-Merrikh will be seeking to redeem their dwindling fortunes against Zesco United at the Al-Merrikh Stadium also in Omdurman. This is the first time in the history of Sudanese football that the two biggest clubs are housed in the same group in their quest for the cherished prize in the continental club football. Of the duo, Merrikh faces an uphill task as any result other than the maximum points will completely kill-off their continental ambitions. Hilal will launch the onslaught on Friday in a dicey test against Pillars of Nigeria, responsible for the absence of six-time winners, Al-Ahly of Egypt. The two clubs share top spot of Group ‘A’ on four points each, though Pillars have superior goal aggregate and victory for either side will positively spur on their quest for one of group’s semi-final slots. The two clubs have emerged the best performers of the group so far and also have results in common – a win and draw from two games. Hilal, third-time participants at this stage have proven to be invincible at their favourite Al-Hilal Stadium whilst Pillars, who would be without defender Maurice Chigozie have also exhibited character on their maiden attempt. On Saturday, it will mark the turn of Al-Merrikh whose false start in the campaign cost Croatian Rodion Hamid Gačanin his job. Local hero Mohamed “Mazda” Abdalla has taken over but began on a losing note as Merrikh lost 1-3 to Heartland FC of Nigeria a fortnight ago. “Mazda” is no stranger to the Merrikh job as he assisted German Otto Pfister three years ago as they lost to CS Sfaxien in the final of the Confederation Cup. Still searching for their first win, the former Sudan national team coach remains upbeat about their chances. “We are looking forward to our next match against Zesco United of Zambia, which will be at home. We need to do our best to beat Zesco and that will get us back into strong contention. “Our group is open and difficult, but we have the ambition to qualify for the semi-finals particularly as we have done well internationally in the last two years,” assured Abdalla. Merrikh will be relying on the return to fitness of Nigerian-import Endurance Idahor and Moroccan Eddafi Karim for victory at the expense of Zesco United, expecting defenders Hichani Himoonde and Nyambe Mulenga, who took part in Zambia’s friendly against Ghana’s Black Stars in London. In Group B, former winners T.P. Mazembe of DR Congo face Zimbabwean debutants Monomotapa FC in Lubumbashi whilst Heartland FC on Nigeria square of Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in Owerri. Etoile, winners in 2007 are yet to showcase a glimpse of their choice as favourites by pundits, but Aziz Ansah, right-back of Heartland FC expects a keener contest. “Etoile have a strong side. They have one of the best teams in the competition and we can’t underestimate them. We need the points badly and with the support of our teeming fans, we hope to achieve the maximum points,” Ansah said. The first and second placed clubs after the round-robin will qualify for the semi-finals with the eventual winners advancing to the final. The winner will represent the continent at the FIFA Club World Cup slated for UAE later in the year. Fixtures 14-8-2009 20:00 Al Hilal (Sudan) vs. Kano Pillars (Nigeria) Group A 15-8-2009 19:00 Al Merrikh (Sudan) vs. Zesco United (Zambia) Group A 15-8-2009 15:30 TP Mazembe (DR Congo) vs. Monomotapa (Zimbabwe) Group B 02-8-2009 16:00 Heartland FC (Nigeria) vs. ES Sahel (Tunisia) Group B