16 May 2011
The draw for the 2011 African Champions League group stages has set up some intriguing ties in a competition that is once again dominated by north Africa.
In fact, Group B of this years competitions looks likely to be an all-north African affair as Mouloudia Alger (Algeria), Al Ahly (Egypt) and Esperance (Tunisia) will be joined by either Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) or Simba SC (Tanzania) in their pool.
The latter two were given a route back into the competition following the disqualification of current holders TP Mazembe for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the campaign.
They must now face-off in a play-off match at a neutral venue at a date that is yet to be determined, with the Moroccans going into the tie as favourites.
Group A has more of a mix of sides from north, west and east Africa, as CotonSport (Cameroon), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), Enyimba (Nigeria) and Al Hilal (Sudan) do battle.
Raja Casablanca have won the African title on three previous occasions in 1989, 1997 and 1999, while Enyimba were winners in the 2003 and 2004 competitions, but have made little impact since.
CotonSport were finalists in 2008 but last out to Ahly, while Al Hilal have twice been runners-up in 1987 and 1992.
The fixtures for the group stages are as follows:
GROUP A
CotonSport (Cameroon), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), Enyimba (Nigeria), Al Hilal (Sudan)
GROUP B
Mouloudia Alger (Algeria), Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance (Tunisia), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) or Simba SC (Tanzania).
The competition starts in mid-July. The top two teams in each group advance to the semifinals.
Wydad and Simba are to meet in a play-off match at a neutral venue to determine who replaces TP Mazembe Englebert in the last eight. The holders were thrown out of the competition on Saturday for using an illegible player in the preliminary rounds.
