Tunisians Esperance look the team to beat as the CAF Champions League group stage kicks off this week with four fixtures.

The 1994 and 2011 title-holders host Algerians Entente Setif on matchday 1 and it would be a shock if they did not collect maximum points.

Compatriots CS Sfaxien, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudanese El-Hilal are the other clubs seeded to reach the semi-finals.

But five-time champions Zamalek of Egypt impressed in the qualifiers under young coach Mido and could upset the rankings.

AFP sport introduces the eight contenders for the $1.5 million (1.1 million euros) first prize and a place at the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco.

Group A

El-Hilal (SUD)

Founded: 1930

Stadium: El-Hilal (35,000 capacity),Omdurman

Nickname: Blue Wave

Coach: Paulo Campos (BRA)

Qualifying results: Stade Malien (MLI) 2-0 (2-0 home, 0-0 away), AC Leopards (CGO) 1-1 (0-0 1-1, won on away goal)

Scorers: Al-Tahir, Bashir, Eltaib 1 goal each

Group appearances: 2007 (2nd place), 2008 (4), 2009 (2), 2011 (2)

Group record: (home) P12 W9 D2 L1 F23 A10, (away) P12 W0 D5 L7 F5 A17

Verdict: Must improve a no-win away form to reach semi-finals

 

TP Mazembe (COD)

Founded: 1939

Stadium: TP Mazembe (18,500), Lubumbashi

Nickname: Ravens

Coach: Patrice Carteron (FRA)

Qualifying: Astres Douala (CMR) 4-1 (3-0 1-1), Sewe San Pedro (CIV) 2-2 (1-0 1-2, won on away goal)

Scorers: Samata 2, Bolingi, Coulibaly, Sakuwaha, Singuluma 1 each

Group appearances: 2001 (4), 2002 (2), 2008 (3), 2009 (1). 2010 (2), 2012 (2)

Group record: (home) P18 W13 D5 L0 F34 A9, (away) P18 W4 D2 L12 F12 A22

Verdict: Can reach last four despite selling stars and an ageing defence

 

Vita Club (COD)

Founded: 1935

Stadium: Tata Raphael (30,000), Kinshasa

Nickname: Black Dolphins

Coach: Florent Ibenge

Qualifying: Kano Pillars (NGR) 4-3 (3-1 1-2), Dynamos (ZIM) 1-0 (1-0 0-0), Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) 3-2 (3-0 0-2)

Scorers: Mubele 4, Agiti 2, Lusadisu, Mabidi 1 each

Group appearances: none

Verdict: Dark horses after surviving three tough qualifiers

 

Zamalek (EGY)

Founded: 1911

Stadium: Cairo (75,000)

Nickname: White Knights

Coach: Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam

Qualifying: Douanes (NIG) 3-0 (2-0 1-0), Kabuscorp (ANG) 1-0 (1-0 0-0), Nkana (ZAM) 5-0 (5-0 0-0)

Scorers: Emam, Zakariya 2 each, Fathallah, Gaafar, Gaber, Ibrahim, Tawfik 1 each

Group appearances: 1997 (2), 2002 (1), 2005 (2), 2008 (4), 2012 (4), 2013 (3)

Group record: (home) P18 W10 D6 L2 F29 A14, (away) P18 W2 D3 L13 F15 A34

Verdict: No goals conceded in six qualifiers is cause for optimism

 

Group B

Al-Ahly Benghazi (LBA)

Founded: 1950

Stadium: March 28 (65,000), Benghazi

Nickname: Butchers

Qualifying: Foullah Edifice (CHA) 4-2 (4-0 0-2), Berekum Chelsea (GHA) 3-1 (2-0 1-1), Al-Ahly (EGY, holders) 4-2 (1-0 3-2)

Scorers: Sadomba 4, Fetori, El-Mahdy 2 each, Jabason, Mbarak, El-Zeoui 1 each

Coach: Tarek El-Ashry (EGY)

Group appearances: none

Verdict: Having to play home games in Tunisia because of security problems is a major disadvantage

 

Esperance (TUN)

Founded: 1919

Stadium: Olympique (65,000), Tunis

Nickname: Blood and Gold

Coach: Ruud Krol (NED)

Qualifying: Gor Mahia (KEN) 8-2 (5-0 3-2), Real Bamako (MLI) 4-1 (3-0 1-1)

Scorers: Jouini 6, Afful 2, Akaichi, Mhirssi, Msakni, N'Djeng 1 each

Group appearances: 1999 (1), 2000 (1), 2001 (1), 2002 (3), 2003 (1), 2004 (1), 2005 (4), 2007 (4), 2010 (1), 2011 (1), 2012 (1), 2013 (1)

Group record: (home) P35 W26 D8 L1 F69 A19, (away) P35 W11 D9 L15 F30 A39

Verdict: Joint leading Champions League scorer Haythem Jouini can spearhead entry to semi-finals

 

Entente Setif (ALG)

Founded: 1958

Stadium: May 8 (25,000), Setif

Nickname: Black Eagles

Coach: Rabah Saadane

Qualifying: ASFA Yennenga (BUR) 5-0 (5-0 0-0), Coton Sport (CMR) 2-0 (1-0 1-0)

Scorers: Belameiri 3, Ogbi 2, Djahnit, Nadji 1 each

Group appearance: 2010 (3)

Group record: (home) P3 W1 D1 L1 F3 A1, (away) P3 W0 D2 L1 F4 A5

Verdict: Tight defence, but would be a shock if they survived mini-league phase

 

CS Sfaxien (TUN)

Founded: 1928

Stadium: Taieb Mhiri (11,000), Sfax

Nickname: Juventus of the Arabs

Coach: Hamadi Daw

Qualifying results: Dedebit (ETH) 4-1 (2-0 2-1), Horoya (GUI) 3-0 (2-0 1-0)

Scorers: Ben Youssef 4, Challouf, Derbali, Moncer 1 each

Group appearance: 2006 (1)

Group record: (home) P3 W3 D0 L0 F5 A1, (away) P3 W1 D0 L2 F4 A6

Verdict: Goal-a-game Fakhreddine Ben Youssef poses major threat

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