Defending champions; Entente Setif were eliminated from the African Champions League on Friday after a three-goal in the hands of fellow Algerians USM Alger.

Setif's fate was sealed after Youcef Bellaili, Kaddour Beldjilali and Mohamed Amine Aoudia scored the goals to send the champions to their third defeat in the group stage of this year's tournament.

Invariably, Entente Setif’s chances of a semi-final berth have been finally buried, with one group game still remaining.

Setif's defeat also guaranteed Al Merreikh of Sudan a place in the last four, regardless of the result in their last two group games.

Merreikh play at bottom placed MC Eulma on Saturday in their penultimate Group B match.

Due to head-to-head advantage, Merreikh knew that a defeat for Setif would put them through to the semi-finals.

With a record of five wins from five matches, USMA will definitely finish as the top placed side in Group B and will face the runners-up in Group A for a place at the final.

On Sunday, Group A leaders TP Mazembe tackle Al Hilal, the great domestic rivals of Al Merreikh, in Omdurman and a win will assure them of a last-four place.

Although Hilal are reeling from a shock home loss to Moroccans Moghreb Tetouan two weekends ago, Mazembe will be wary having lost away to the Sudanese side at the same stage last season.

"We still have a chance of qualifying," insists Tunisia-born Hilal coach Nabil Al Kouki, whose side share second place with Tetouan, three points adrift of Mazembe.

"Our game against Mazembe will be crucial -- nothing but three points will suffice," said Al Kouki.

Tetouan, who drew two previous home group games, host Smouha of Egypt, who have lost all five preliminary and mini-league away matches, in another Sunday fixture.