The African Champions League quarter-final first leg gets underway this weekend with eight former champions battling for the Holy Grail of African club football.
Cairo and Casablanca will be the host cities as the teams begin the battle for last four in the continent’s premier club competition.
The action gets underway in Cairo on Friday evening when Zamalek host defending champions Esperance de Tunis at Cairo International Stadium.
The two teams will be renewing their rivalry exactly fourteen days after locking horns in the African Super Cup in Qatar.
Zamalek emerged a 3-1 victorious in a match that Esperance played below expectations of their authentic fans who travelled all the way from Tunisia to cheer their beloved team.
The Tunisian giants are widely considered the best side in Africa and have plenty of quality to call upon hence making them slight favourites to come out of Egypt with a decent result.
Esperance go into the battle without the services of the duo of Taha Yassine Khenissi and Same Derbali who have suffered long term injuries
Dependable forward Mahel Ben Sghaier who sustained a twisted ankle in the previous game is expected to make a return together with Libyan international Hamdou Elhouni.
Moroccan winger Achraf Bencharki is in top form and could carry Zamalek, who would be out to be counted together with Tunisian Ferjani Sassi in the hunt for a home victory.
This will be quickly followed by the eagerly-anticipated clash between Raja Casablanca of Morocco and five-time champions TP Mazembe.
The clash will be played at Mohamed V Complex in the city of Casablanca in which will be their second encounter in Champions League history after a group stage meeting in 2002 where each side enjoyed a home victory.
The Moroccans will be counting on their striking duo of Badr Banoun and Soufiane Rahimi, while Mazembe will be expecting their renowned goal poacher Jackson Muleka to be in his day to snatch an away positive result that could help their cause.
Saturday’s first match sees record eight-time title holders Al Ahly welcome South Africa contenders Mamelodi Sundowns at Cairo International Stadium.
The quarterfinals wrap up on Saturday evening when Wydad Casablanca of Morocco welcome the other Tunisian contenders Etoile du Sahel at Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca.
