Group D
Al Ahly
CR Belouizdad
Young Africans
Medeama
Al Ahly will not struggle to make it to the knockout phase as they have been placed in the same group with Ghanaian debutants Medeama SC, the inexperienced Tanzanian side Young Africans and the Algerian Champions Belouizdad.
Al Ahly are the most decorated football club on this continent having won the
prestigious CCL on 11 occasions. The defending champions are always the favourite whenever this competition kicks off.
Marcel Koller, the Swiss manager would want to defend the title as he still has the quality of Mohammed El Shenawy, Ali Maaloul, Mohammed Abdelmonem, Aliou Dieng, Emam Ashour, Percy Tau, Kahraba, El Shahat, Afsha Magdi and addition of former 1.FC Koln striker, Antony Modeste is at his disposal.
An opening game against the inexperienced minnows Medeama on Saturday evening will commence the Red Devils’ journey to defend their title.
Medeama SC, the team from the Western part of Ghana is making its first appearance in the CAF Champions League group stage appearance. The Mauve and Yellow, managed by Evans Augustine Adotey, will have to play above their usual standards to stand a chance of qualifying from the group. The Ghanaian champions are lying 8th with 16 points after 11 games in the ongoing betPawa Premier League.
They have been inconsistent throughout the season and consistency will be key if they want to progress to the knockout phase.
With Jonathan Sowah, Abdulai Nurudeen and Hamidu Abdul Fatawu in the squad, Medeama is not short of quality as they can do the impossible and progress to the Quarter-finals.
Young Africans are swimming in a pool of confidence having won their last 5 games in the Tanzanian Liga Kuu Bara beating their perennial rivals, Simba SC 5-1 in the process. Yanga SC, the defending champions of the Tanzanian League are leading the league table with 19 points as they bid to defend their title. This will be the second time Young Africans will play in the money zone of the CCL after a 25-year hiatus. They have an experienced Argentine manager Miguel Angel Gamondi, who has worked on the African continent for more than 2 decades. No one can bet against Yanga SC to qualify for the Quarter-finals. Runner-up to USM Algiers in the 2022-23 CAF Confederation Cup, Yanga SC are ready to challenge the best of the continent.
CR Belouizdad will enjoy a fourth consecutive money zone appearance in the CCL after qualifying for the quarter-finals in the last 3 editions.
Belouizdad has won the last four Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1. A team that never lacks confidence as they have been among the top 10 teams on the continent in the last 5 years will hope to book their ticket to the quarter-finals.
Teams to qualify
Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad
