African Super League: tasty ties to get the experiment under way
The African Super League kicks off on Friday 20 October with the first legs of the quarter-finals. Six teams from the continent will be in action
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Simba SC-Al Ahy (15:00 GMT)
Tanzanians and Egyptians will have the honour of kicking off, for posterity, the African Super League. Simba SC host Al Ahly of Egypt, a match eagerly awaited in Tanzania, especially as Simba SC have not lost at home in 10 matches now, in all competitions. Al Ahly, for their part, will want to bring that run to an end. One of the best teams in Africa for decades, Al Ahly will be looking to win this first edition of the African Super League. Since their 0-1 defeat to USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup, played on 15 September, the Cairo side have not lost, putting together 5 convincing wins in all competitions.
Petro-Mamelodi (15:30 GMT)
Scheduled for Saturday 21 October, Petro (Angola) will host Mamelodi of South Africa for a place in the semi-finals of the first edition of the African Super League. The Angolans need to make home advantage count before travelling to South Africa on the 24th of the same month. The two sides know each other well, as they meet very often in the African Champions League. Their last meeting was on 4 April 2022, when Petro and Mamelodi drew 1-1.
TP Mazembe-EspéranceTunis (15:00 GMT)
On Sunday 22 October, TP Mazembe will welcome Espérance Tunis. Both teams are regulars in every competition run by the CAF, which is why the continental body picked these two sides for its first African Super League. Congolese and Tunisians have not met in African competition since 2019. Of note, TP Mazembe have recorded 4 wins and 1 draw in their last five matches. Espérance Tunis have the same record.
Enyimba-Wydad (18:00 GMT)
Wydad of Morocco go into this quarter-final first leg, to be played in Nigeria on Sunday 22 October, with a slight edge. The Moroccans have not lost in 5 outings (4 wins, 1 draw) in all competitions. The opposite is true of their opponents Enyimba, who have had one win, two defeats and as many draws in their last matches. This first leg of the African Super League could be the spark the Nigerians need.
Jim CEESAY