By Piers Edwards BBC Sport

Eight teams are left in the hunt for the African Champions League title

Memories will come flooding back for both Dynamos and Asec Mimosas when they meet in this weekend's opening Group A game of the 2008 Champions League.

The duo met in the 1998 Champions League final, where Ivorians Asec triumphed 4-2 on aggregate over their Zimbabwean rivals.

Although Asec have since turned out such stars as the Toure brothers and Aruna Dindane, it was Ivorian internationals of yesteryear - such as Tchiressoua Guel and Donald Sie - who inspired the success.

Neither side have reached a final since, although Asec have twice made the semi-finals.

Dynamos owe their first group stage appearance since 1999 to their shock win over holders Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia.

Asec are in the group stage for a record ninth time but that feat is no match for Egyptian group rivals Al Ahly and Zamalek, who meet in the other Group A encounter on Sunday.

The two teams from Cairo are the most successful when it comes to being crowned Africa's best - both have won the championship five times.

Al Ahly have been the dominant force recently and their 2005 and 2006 successes finally took them level with their great rivals.

Sunday's clash in the Cairo International Stadium will be closely followed across the Arab world.

Zamalek will be keen to avenge their 4-1 mauling by Ahly in their last Champions League meeting - in the 2005 semi-finals.

Ahly have reached the last three finals, losing last year to Etoile du Sahel, while Zamalek have not graced the final since lifting the trophy in 2002.

While Group A includes clubs who have won the title on 11 separate occasions, Group B offers just four championships - shared by just two clubs; Nigeria's Enyimba and DR Congo's TP Mazembe.

Enyimba's 2003 and 2004 triumphs made them the first side since Mazembe to successfully defend Africa's prize club crown.

The Congolese's heyday was in the 60s as they conquered in both 1967 and 1968, before going on to reach the final - but without success - in both 1969 and 1970.

This was also a golden age for the Congolese game, with the national team winning both the 1968 and 1974 Nations Cup - an era that must seem long gone for the country's devoted fans.

The Lubumbashi side is aiming to progress past the group stage for the first time since 2002, and they travel to Cameroon to face Coton Sport this weekend.

The Garoua club is the only one in the competition never to have reached a Champions League final, with their most successful African run coming in 2003 when they lost the now-defunct Caf Cup final.

In fact, despite the Indomitable Lions' successes, Coton Sport are only the third Cameroonian side to contest the group phase and the last champions were Canon Yaounde in 1980.

Sudan's Al Hilal will be looking to go one better than last year when they surprised everyone by reaching the semi-finals - only losing to Etoile du Sahel 4-3 on aggregate in a tight game.

Two-time finalists in 1987 and 1992, the resurgent Sudanese have kept the bulk of last year's squad.

Enyimba, known as 'The People's Elephant', are back in the group stages after missing out last year and are in impressive goalscoring form - netting 13 times in their last four matches.

The carrot for all eight teams is not only the massive prize money on offer for winning the Champions League, but the chance to represent Africa in Fifa's Club World Cup in December.