Setif, Alger and El Eulma, all Algerian, all set for battle in same CAF Champions League last eight group



The three Algerian qualifiers were placed together Tuesday when the CAF Champions League groups draw was made in Cairo.

Defending champions ES Setif, USM Alger and MC El Eulma are in Group B with Sudanese Al Merrikh.

A ranking system determines whether countries are allowed one or two entrants in the elite African club competition, but Algeria got an additional place because title-holders Setif qualify automatically.

Group A comprises Congolese TP Mazembe, Egyptians Smouha, Moroccans Moghreb Tetouan and Sudanese Al Hilal Omdurman.

Each club play their three opponents at home and away between June and September with group winners and runners-up progressing to the semi-finals.

Many pundits are predicting a Setif-Mazembe final and they were the top seeds.

Merrikh and Hilal were also seeded to prevent two Sudanese clubs being in the same group.

But the African Football Confederation (CAF) declined to introduce seeding to block all the Algerian sides going into the same mini-league.

Travel poses challenges for African clubs due to lengthy flights, last-minute schedule changes and limited airline options so the Algerian clubs will be thrilled to have five “home” games each.

Setif stand out as probable Group B winners with Alger or Merrikh likely to join them in the penultimate stage.

Alger reached the 2003 semi-finals, Merrikh have not gone beyond the group stage and El Eulma are playing in the competition for the first time.

Four-time title-holders Mazembe are clear favourites to top the Group A standings.

Hilal were runners-up in 1982 and 1987 while Smouha and Tetouan are group debutants.

The African champions will collect US$1.5 million (Dh5.5m) and qualify for the 2015 Club World Cup in Japan.

CAF Champions League draw

Group A

Smouha (Egypt), Moghreb Tetouan (Morocco), TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo), Al Hilal (Sudan)

Group B

ES Setif (Algeria), USM Alger (Algeria), MC El Eulma (Algeria), Al Merrikh (Sudan)

Match dates: June 26-28, July 10-12 and 24-26, August 7-9 and 21-23, September 11-13

Note: group winners and runners-up qualify for semi-finals

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')

Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')

Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)


Middle East Today

The must read newsletter for the region

      By signing up, I agree to The National's privacy policy
      Middle East Today