Can TP Mazembe retain their trophy?
The 2010 African Champions League semi-finals have a very Maghreb/Egyptian feel to them this year. Perhaps this should come as no surprise. Of the last 29 tournaments, North African sides have provided 22 winners – a statistic that only serves to highlight the region’s incredible dominance of club football in Africa.
In the last ten years, only Hearts of Oak (Ghana), Enyimba (Nigeria) and last season’s winners TP Mazembe (DR Congo) have broken up North African dominance of the African Champions League. This year looks no different. With three of the four semi-finalists hailing from North Africa, that statistic could soon read 23 winners from 30 tournaments.
JS Kabylie, Al-Ahly and Esperance are the three teams North of the continent looking to bring home the trophy. Only holders TP Mazembe can stop the stranglehold. But can they retain their trophy? The two semi-finals are as follows:
JS Kabylie vs TP Mazembe
Espérance vs Al-Ahly
Espérance vs Al-Ahly
JS Kabylie vs TP Mazembe
The first semi-final sees holders TP Mazembe face form team JS Kabylie of Algeria. Winners in 1980 and 1991, the turn of a new decade seems to suit JS Kabylie. One of Algeria’s biggest clubs, the Tizi-Ouzou based outfit have won the most domestic league titles in Algeria and are flying in this season’s competition. Here’s a taste of what their supporters have to offer, from their recent 1-0 win over Ismaily:
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