african giants Etoile du sahel and TP Mazembe will meet in one of the highly billed clash in the semi final of the Orange |CAF confederations cup first leg to be staged in Mediterranian city of Sousse.
both teams began their capmaigns in the more fancied CAF champions league before being relegated to the Confederatins cup,the equivalent of the Europa league in Europe.
Its however important to note that the two clubs are holders of the two tier african club leagues with Mazembe the defending champions league while Etoile du sahel the confederations cup.
The Tunisian outfit, based in the Mediterranean resort of Sousse, are the only club to have won all five present and past African competitions.
Alot is at stake when the two giants meet and the absolute winner could be tipped for the coveted title.
Last year, Mazembe won the CAF Champions League and Etoile the CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the Europa League.
Those victories set them up for a CAF Super Cup showdown and two goals from Ghanaian Daniel Adjei gave Mazembe a 2-1 victory in a one-off match they hosted in Lubumbashi.
Adjei is among many foreigners in a 19-man Mazembe squad chosen by French coach Hubert Velud for the first leg at the 25 000-seat Stade Olympique late Saturday.
Others include Zambians Kabaso Chongo, Rainford Kalaba and Nathan Sinkala, Ivorians Christian Kouame and Roger Assale, Malians Salif Coulibaly and Adama Traore and Ghanaian Solomon Asante.
Another Ivorian, goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo, was not included, leaving charismatic veteran Robert Kidiaba and Aime Bakula vying for the role of shot-stopper.
Etoile rely largely on Tunisian talent, but centre-back Ammar Jemal has been ruled out of the semifinal after undergoing knee surgery.
Jemal is not only an outstanding defender, but also a regular scorer, claiming both goals in a 2-1 aggregate victory over Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the 2015 Confederation Cup final.
Goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi, midfielder Hamza Lahmar and strikers Ahmed Akaichi and Brazilian Diogo Acosta are other Etoile stars.
additional report by AFP
