Following the ousting of the big guns from North and West Africa ,players, officials and fans of Sudanese giants, El Merreikh see this moment as an opportunity not to be missed, with a place at the final and eventually winning the ultimate within sight.
Reaching the semis represents a huge success for Merreikh has obviously surpassed their anticipations with the semifinal feat now in their kitty, but they find TP Mazembe a huge obstacle in their quest to win a first ever title in the history of the premier continental club championship, when the two sides face-off in the first leg of the semi-final on Saturday in Omdurman.
Since making their continental bow in 1971, Al-Zaeem's biggest feat remains winning the defunct CAF Cup Winners Cup in 1989. Ever since, they have failed to come close to replicating that feat. Their best shot would come in 2007, losing to CS Sfaxien in the final of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup.
This term, Merreikh survived in a seemingly difficult Group B that included three Algerian clubs including holders ES Setif. The others are USM Alger and MC Eulma. Four wins and a draw from six games was enough for them to qualify alongside USM Alger, which topped the group with 15 points.
Mazembe on the otherhand, scooped 11 points to top Group A, making the headlines with their 5-0 win of Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco on the last day to seal their place at the last four. The DR Congo side managed eight goals and conceded once from six games against nine for and four against on the part of Merreikh.
The success story of the Omdurman-based club won't be complete without the mention of trainer, Diego Garzitto. Key actors in the campaign include striker Bakri 'Al Medina' Babeker, who has six goals in as many matches, Uganda-born goalie Omar Jamal, defender Ala Eldin Youcef, Nigeria-born midfielder Solomon Jabason and Egyptian Ayman Saeed.
Four-time winners, Mazembe are taking no chances and arrived in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum on Saturday, 19 September 2015 to acclimatize and prepare for the first leg clash.
The game will serve an emotional moment for Merreikh coach Garzitto, who guided Mazembe to continental glory in 2009 after a 47-year hiatus. A repeat of the 2009 CECAFA-Kagame Cup at the same venue, but this time Garzitto will be on the other side.
Mazembe will look forward to the likes of veteran goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba, captain Joel Kimwaki, Zambia-born playmaker Rainford Kalaba and Tanzanian duo, Mbwana Samata and Thomas Ulimwengu to snatch an important result in Omdurman.
The two sides met at the 1/8th round of the CAF Champions League in 2012, with Mazembe progressing to the mini-league stage thanks to a 2-0 win in Lubumbashi and 1-1 draw in Omdurman.
Fixtures
Saturday, 26 September 2015
El Merreikh (Sudan) vs TP Mazembe (DR Congo) 21H00 Omdurman
Sunday, 27 September 2015
El Hilal (Sudan) vs USM Alger (Algeria) 20H00 Omdurman
