CAF Champions League: three mouthwatering ties on Saturday's card
AS FAR Rabat visit Etoile du Sahel. One of the two former Champions League winners will miss out on the group stage.
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The draw made a few days ago produced some mouthwatering ties for the 2nd preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. Several of the continent's big names are set for a fierce fight to reach the competition's group stage. FAR Rabat are one of them.
Etoile du Sahel v FAR Rabat, a meeting of two former winners
Reigning Moroccan champions after a 15-year wait for the title, the 'Militaires' enter a competition they won in 1985 with plenty of ambition. They hope to follow in the footsteps of WAC, who very often fly the Moroccan flag high on the African stage. First, though, they must get past Etoile du Sahel. The Tunisian side are no longer the great force they were in the early 2000s (winners in 2007, finalists in 2004 and 2005), but they are still capable at times of putting together a fine run in Africa, as their Confederation Cup win in 2015 showed. The first leg is scheduled in Tunisia this evening. Etoile du Sahel have played three league games, with 1 defeat on the opening day and two wins since. FAR Rabat, after two Botola matches, have a draw and a win.
Promising Real Bamako v Nouadhibou
Before this big clash between FAR Rabat and Etoile du Sahel, there is a fine fixture in Sudan in the early afternoon: Al-Merreikh (Sudan) v Young Africans (Tanzania). The Sudanese are used to big African nights and very often reach the group stage. But to make it this year, they will have to get past Young Africans. Double reigning Tanzanian champions, the Tanzanians are growing in strength in Africa. They put together a creditable run in the CAF Cup last season.
Then Real Bamako host FC Nouadhibou, who have ruled the roost in the Mauritanian league in recent years. The 4th fixture on Saturday's card is Power Dynamos (Zambia) v Simba (Tanzania).
CAF Champions League (2nd round): today's schedule
13:00 Al-Merreikh (Sud) v Young Africans (Tan)
13:00 Power Dynamos (Zam) v Simba (Tan)
15:00 Etoile Sahel (Tun) v FAR Rabat (Mar)
16:00 Real Bamako (Mli) v Nouadhibou (Mrt)
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