1989 CAF Cup Winners and 2007 CAF Confederetions finalists Al Mereikh Omdurman will tomorrow Saturday host Congo DR giants TP Mazembe in the first leg of the CAF Champions League Semi final at the Al Merreikh Stadium.

Omdurman will witness a second battle the following day as Al Hilal host Algerian USM Alger in the second semi final match first leg.

Al Merreikh are keen to reach the final but are wary of the Congolese threat after the latter cruely dismissed Moghreb Tetuon of Morrocco 5-0 in the final group decider match ensuring they topped Group A with 11 points ahead of Al Hilal.

Mazembe will line their dependable aresenals in veteran keeper Kidiaba,Tanzanian duo of Thomas Ulimwengu and Mbwana Samatta together with Zambian play maker Rainford Kalaba and captain Joel Kimwaki.They arrived in Sudanese Capital on the 19th on Saturday and have been camping there for almost a week.

Al Merreikh who were in a difficult group B comprising three Algerian clubs including defending champions Entente Setif,USM Alger who topped the group and MC Eulma.

Merreikh won 4 matches,drew one and lost one,ironically each of USM and Merreikhs losses were vice versa.

The Omdurman boys coached by former TP Mazembe 2009 champions league winning coach Garzetti will rely on home boy Al Babeker(Medina),Ugandan Omar Jamal who has been impresive in between the posts together with Egyptian defender Ala Eldin and Nigerian midfielder Solomon Jabcison.

The last time the two teams met was ironically in the same tournament where TP Mazembe prevailed on a 3-1 aggregate.Mazembe held Merreikh 1-1 in Omdurman and later Merriekh lising 2-0 in a fortnight in Lubumbashi.

The match kicks off at 2100 HRS
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Austin Oduor

talking African football