Orange Caf Champions League SF 2 - 2nd Leg TodayEsperance vs TP Mazembe 19:55 SS9SF 1 - 2nd LegSundayAl Ahly vs Sunshine Stars 19:25 SS9CAIRO - Title holders Esperance of Tunisia and Al Ahly of Egypt are expected to reach the CAF Champions League final this weekend and set up a showdown between African club football giants.The Cairo Red Devils have won the trophy a record six times from eight final appearances and the Tunis Blood and Gold have conquered the continent twice and finished runners-up three times.They are favoured to advance having forced away draws in the first legs of the semifinals two weeks ago with Ahly holding Sunshine Stars 3-3 in Nigeria and Esperance containing TP Mazembe 0-0 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.It is particularly difficult to imagine Ahly not advancing as a 0-0, 1-1 or 2-2 draw at home would take them through on the away-goal rule, and another 3-3 stalemate would stretch the tie into a penalty shootout.So it must be win-or-bust for Stars, the odd club out among the last four in the premier African club competition this year as they have never won a trophy lifted four times by Mazembe.Nigerian coach Gbenga Ogunbote blames a pre-first leg strike over unpaid signing-on fees for a below-par showing in which his side constantly played catch-up, wiping out 2-0 and 3-2 deficits.“We trained for only four days and that is not enough when you are facing Ahly. My boys were unable to raise their game at crucial periods and I hope for a much better showing in Cairo.”Ahly coach Hossam Al Badry expects Sunshine to attack at the June 30 stadium, a venue the Cairo club will be using for the first time and which will be virtually empty with the team forced once again to play behind closed doors.No spectators have been permitted at Ahly home fixtures after 74 died in post-match rioting after the Cairo club lost a domestic league match against bitter rivals Al Masry last February in Port Said.When Mazembe last visited Esperance they held a 5-0 advantage going into the second leg of the 2010 Champions League final, and drew 1-1 before going on to become the first African finalists in the Fifa Club World Cup.Another score draw would suffice for the Congolese and they will bank heavily on captain Tresor Mputu and fellow midfielder Mbwana Samata, who have scored six goals each in Africa this season.But the Lubumbashi Ravens will not be at full strength with Zambia defender Stoppila Sunzu suspended and compatriots Rainford Kalaba and Hichani Himonde requiring late fitness tests.Esperance can call on fit-again Ghana defender Harrison Afful and are hopeful injured midfielders Youssef Msakni and Karim Aouadhi will recover for a match to be watched by a crowd restricted to 25 000 because of security concerns.The final will be staged over two legs during November with a two-week break between fixtures and the champions pocket $1.5 million plus a place at the 2012 Club World Cup in Japan.
