Asec is rich in youthful talent

Group A

ASEC Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
ASEC have only missed two of the six previous editions of the Champions League and won the title in 1998.

The Ivorians have earned international renown in recent years for their academy that has already produced more than 20 footballers who have gone on to play for foreign clubs.

Last year, ASEC's relatively youthful side reached the semi-finals and they will again harbour realistic ambitions of making the top four.

Participation (15 times): 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003

Simba Sports Club (Tanzania)
The Tanzanian side confounded many and probably themselves by knocking out holders Zamalek to reach the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

They also needed penalties to get past South African champions Santos in the first round and are the only club in the last eight who came through the preliminary round at the start of the year.

However, Simba will be the underdogs in all the matches they play.

Participation (nine times): 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003

Enyimba (Nigeria)
This ambitious club, based at Aba near Port Harcourt, is seeking to become the first side from Nigeria to win the top club prize in African football.

Enyeama has a safe pair of hands

Last year they failed to reach the mini-league phase of the competition but were emphatic in their progress this time round with a 4-0 aggregate thumping of Senegalese champions Jeanne d'Arc in the second round in May.

The team is coached by Kadiri Ikhana, a former Nigerian international, and the squad features current first choice national team goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who played against England at last year's World Cup finals in Japan.

Participation (twice): 2002, 2003

Ismailia (Egypt)
One of the biggest clubs in Egyptian football, Ismailia have a reputation for playing what their fans call "fantasy football".

This is a rare chance for the side from the city some 100km south of Cairo to shine in a spotlight normally dominated by capital clubs Al Ahly and Zamalek.

Ironically, Ismailia were the first Egyptian side to win a continental title, taking the old Champions Cup in 1969, but there has been little in the way of silverware since.

German Theo Bucker, who previously worked in Lebanon, was hired to handle this campaign.

Participation (eight times): 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1992, 1995, 2003

Group B

USM Algiers (Algeria)

USMA are ripe for continental success

USM Algiers are seeking to become the first Algerian side since 1990 to win the African title.

The Algerian side are one of the top contenders for a semi-final place their ambitions are likely to be hampered by the sale of leading goal scorer Issaad Bourahli to Entente Setif.

Participation (twice): 1997, 2003

AS Aviacao (Angola)
One of the tournament's 'dark horses' but as their record shows, they do not care much about reputations following their elimination of former winners, Hearts of Oak, in the second round.

The airline club are competing in the group stage of the Champions League for the first time. They won their first post-independence title last year and ended a 34-year drought, breaking the traditional dominance of the two Luanda clubs, Petro Atletico and Primeiro Agosto.

AS Aviacao have threatened to win the Girabola in Angola for several years, the groundwork for their current success laid under the tutelage of the Portuguese technician Bernardino Pedroto.

A realistic target for the Angolan champions, though, would be a runner-up spot and a semi-final place that comes with it.

Participation (once): 2003

Canon Yaounde (Cameroon)
A run-down stadium in Yaounde was closed for renovations, forcing Canon to play their home matches in the Champions League at Douala.

It has been more than a decade since Canon last played in Africa's leading club competition but in their heyday Canon were continental champions three times, in 1971, 1978 and 1980.

One of the stars of that era, World Cup defender Theophile Abega, is now the club president and Pierre Ndjili coaches the side.

Recently Canon midfielder Parfait Ngon Adjam was drafted into Cameroon's squad for the Confederations Cup, a rare feat for a locally-based player.

Participation (10 times): 1971, 1972, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1992, 2003

Esperance Sportive of Tunis (Tunisia)
Champions in 1994, Esperance have played more matches than any other side in the Champions League since its introduction seven years ago but have not won the trophy since the introduction of the league competition in 1997.

Twice they have been runners-up but last year failed to make the semi-final stage, which led to the sacking of Swiss coach Michel Decastel.

Now coached by Youssef Zouaoui, the ambitious club are once again among the favourites.