Draw favours African big-wigs

Two weeks ago Raja added the African Super Cup to an already impressive honours list and start the Champions’ League as early favourites, although several other clubs have equally impressive credentials.

The 32-team field includes two other former champions in Egypt’s Al Ahli and Esperance of Tunisia. Both are expected to romp through the first round.

Al Ahli host Tusker of Kenya in the first-leg of their tie in Cairo tomorrow while Esperance are at home to Rwandan army team Apr FC in Tunis on Saturday.

The Egyptians, coached by German Rainer Zobel, will be without two experienced Internationals, having loaned captain Hossam Hassan to Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, and Hady Khashaba, a member of Egypt’s squad at the recent African Nations’ Cup finals in Nigeria.

There is also a full programme of matches in the African Cup Winners’ Cup and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup.

Club Africain of Tunisia, last year’s beaten finalists in the Cup Winners’ Cup, are back in action again this year and have been drawn away against Mogas 90 of Benin in Cotonou on Sunday.

Also in the field are South African club Supersport United, whose coach Bruce Grobbelaar was a European Cup winner as a player with English club Liverpool.

CAF Cup holders Etoile Sahel, also from Tunisia, start the defence of their title in Sousse on Saturday against Desports Chingala, the provincial club from Mozambique’s northern Tete province.

Two matches scheduled for Senegal this weekend have been postponed because of presidential elections in the West African country.