Algeria’s MC El Eulma, down to the second tier, but not out of the Champions League

When MC El Eulma face Al Merrikh in Sudan on Friday, they will set out in the African Champions League last eight group stage with an aim to being the first club to win the African title after relegation since 1988.

Algerians MC El Eulma set out Friday to become only the second club from a second division to win the African Champions League.

Compatriots ES Setif achieved the remarkable feat in 1988, losing top-flight domestic status during an African campaign crowned by a 4-1 final triumph over Nigerians Iwuanyanwu Nationale.

Champions League newcomers Eulma play Sudanese Al Merrikh in Omdurman hoping to make a winning start as they seek consolation for a bizarre demotion.

They scored 40 goals in the 30-round Algerian championship, more than any of the other 15 clubs, including champions Setif.

But El Eulma fell one point short of dodging the drop under French coach Jules Accorsi, who turns 78 Saturday.

He concedes that his team might have fared better by concentrating on avoiding league losses rather than trying to win matches.

“Algerian clubs play with a knife to their throats and fear in their chests,” he told reporters.

Title-holders Setif and USM Alger are also in Group B – the first time three clubs from a country are in the same Champions League section.

Merrikh claimed a notable qualifying victory over Tunisian club Esperance de Tunis and Franco-Italian coach Diego Garzitto won the 2009 Champions League with DR Congo outfit TP Mazembe.

“Repeated early Champions League exits are unacceptable to a big club like Merrikh,” stressed Garzitto. “We are now planning to go far.”

After scraping past Ethiopians Saint George, El Eulma surprised Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko and another Tunisian club, CS Sfaxien.

Setif stand alone among the eight survivors in not losing a qualifier this season, winning and drawing against Gambian team Real Banjul and drawing twice with Morocco’s Raja Casablanca.

A stormy showdown against Casablanca was won on penalties and the outcome impressed pundits sufficiently for them to choose Setif and four-time title-holders Mazembe as the likeliest 2015 champions.

Setif have received two significant boosts with coach Kheireddine Madoui reversing a decision to quit and goalkeeper Sofiane Khedairia regaining his place.

Madoui had said he would leave because of “tiredness”, and earlier demoted Khedairia, claiming the shot-stopper feigned injury to avoid visiting Gambia.

Alger, back in the group stage after 10 years, are away to Setif Saturday and have placed their faith in three former assistant coaches after dumping 78-year-old German Otto Pfister.

The Algiers club eliminated Chad’s Foullah Edifice and Guinean side AS Kaloum Star with little to spare and Senegalese club Pikine with plenty to spare.

Both Group A games are set for Sunday with Mazembe hosting Sudanese Al Hilal for the second successive season before Egypt’s Smouha play Morocco’s Moghreb Tetouan in Alexandria.

Mazembe defeated twice runners-up Hilal 3-1 in southern Congolese mining city Lubumbashi last year and the same venue is likely to produce a similar outcome.

The “Congolese Ravens” are virtually invincible at home as 2015 qualifying victims Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Stade Malien of Mali can testify.

Traditional poor travellers Hilal did win a 2009 Champions League semi-final in Lubumbashi, but only after a heavy first-leg home loss.

Mazembe have a multi-national squad, including Ivorian goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo and midfielder Roger Assale and wingers Solomon Asante of Ghana and Rainford Kalaba of Zambia.

Smouha will be wary of Tetouan, who eliminated Cairo giants Al Ahly in the final qualifying round and boast the leading Champions League scorer this season in six-goal Mouhcine Iajour.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE