1. The away goal rule could play a key role in the 2nd leg ties
Europe has scrapped the away goal rule but it is in full effect in Africa. The away goal rule makes knockout ties exciting as goalless draw first-leg games are never favourable to the teams playing at home in the second leg. In the first leg of the Champions League, with Al Ahly’s 1-0 win in Dar es Salaam against Simba, the other three games ended goalless. This means that when the away team scores, the home team must score twice to stand any chance to progress. It will be very interesting for the weekend in the CAF Champions League as Sundowns, Asec and Petro Luanda all have a huge task to prevent Yanga, Eaperance and TP Mazembe from scoring.
2. Simba SC has a tough mission to accomplish in Cairo
Simba drew 1-1 in Cairo in the second leg of the quarter-finals of the maiden African Football League after drawing 2-2 in Tanzania. Their away performance in Africa has not been that encouraging even though they have almost closed the huge gap that existed between them and the big boys. Simba must at least score twice and make sure Al Ahly doesn’t score more than once. The task is extremely huge looking at Al Ahly’s performance at home. Simba wasted a lot of changes in the first leg and will hope they will send their scoring boots to Cairo. Al Ahly remains a favourite as Simba SC faces its biggest test of the season.
3. Can TP Mazembe break Hugo Marques’ record?
Petro Luanda will hope that Marques’ 7 games without conceding a single goal will not be broken by TP Mazembe. It is an enviable record for the 38-year-old veteran. The goalless draw in the first leg makes the tie very open because if TP Mazembe scores, Petro Luanda will be in trouble. Can Marques make it 8 straight clean sheets on Saturday?
4. Will Asec Mimosas make WAFU proud?
West African Football Union is probably the worst performing among all the CAF-affiliates in club football. It has been ages since any club from West Africa won the CAF Champions League. The last triumph by any club from WAFU was the 2003/04 season when Enyimba won under Okey Emordi. Playing into the final four has also been difficult as West African clubs have been very weak in recent years in the CAF Champions League. Asec Mimosas has the opportunity at home to win to make the WAFU Zone proud. Goalless in the first leg in Tunisia with Esperance dominating but was unlucky to not score, it is a 50-50 tie as both teams can qualify.
