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Page last updated at 09:53 GMT, Friday, 12 September 2008 10:53 UK

Clubs eye semi-final spots

The African Champions League trophy
The Champs League semi-finalists could be decided this weekend

Five-time African champions Al Ahly of Egypt are one of four clubs that could seal places in the semi-finals of the Champions League this weekend.

In Group A Ahly need only a draw against their Cairo rivals Zamalek on Sunday to advance once again to the last four.

If Ahly do get the point they need then Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast can join them, provided they overcome Dynamos of Zimbabwe in Abidjan on Saturday.

Group B leaders Coton Sport of Cameroon and Nigeria's Enyimba know if they both win then they will seal a semi-final place.

Coton Sport visit Tout Puissant Mazembe of the DR Congo, while second-placed Enyimba host Al Hilal of Sudan in Group B on Sunday.

While the Egyptian rivals share the record for African Champions League titles with five each it's Ahly who have dominated both at the domestic level and internationally in recent years.

When the clubs met last June in the opening round of the Champions League group stage, Ahly triumphed 2-1 with goals from Angola striker Flavio and Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan.

A week later it was 2-0 to Ahly in the pre-season Egypt Super Cup with veteran Hassan, a mid-year signing from Belgian club Anderlecht, again on target.

Zamalek coach Reiner Hollmann is unperturbed by these reverses, telling the club website: "Our chances to advance to the semi-finals are equal to those of our group competitors."

Asec had a poor start to their campaign losing to Dynamos and drawing with Ahly.

I just want to win and win well and that is all I have in mind when I play

Enyimba striker Stephen Worgu

They then managed to earn four points against Zamalek with a draw in Cairo and win in Abidjan.

That means Asec are now second in the group a point ahead of Zamalek and two in front of the Zimbabwean 'Glamour Boys'.

Enyimba welcome back the leading scorer in this year's Champions League, Stephen Worgu from suspension for the game against Hilal.

The Nigerian side are trying to recover from a 3-0 mauling at Mazembe two weeks ago that saw them slip to second place, a point behind Coton Sport.

While the 'Peoples Elephant' also lost in Sudan to Hilal, ironically to a late goal from Nigerian Ifeanyi Onigbo, they are formidable at home in Aba.

Their five qualifying and group matches have so far yielded 17 goals.

Teenager Worgu, who has hit the target 12 times in African combat this year, offers no secret for his success.

"I just want to win and win well and that is all I have in mind when I play," he said.

Hilal, who reached the semi-finals last year, surrendered the advantage in the group by taking just one point from a possible six against Coton Sport.

The club from the north west Cameroon town of Garoua have been the revelation of the pool phase despite the resignation of French coach Denis Lavagne.

However, should a Mazembe team inspired by captain and striker Mputu Mabi match the form that overwhelmed Enyimba, Coton Sport may have to try for a semi-finals place again next weekend when the final fixtures are staged.


see also
Champions League statistics
31 Aug 08 |  African
Al Ahly win with last-gasp goal
16 Aug 08 |  African
TP Mazembe stun Enyimba
31 Aug 08 |  African
Champions League round-up
02 Sep 08 |  African


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