League form may play a factor as 32 teams chase for the 16 slots in the lucrative money earning group stage .

www.soka25east.com looks at the form and its effect in the tuesday and wednesday champions league clash .

We start from east Africa where the battle for the east Africa sees Ethiopian giants St Georges taking on Uganda’s KCCA .St Georges fourth in the Ethiopian league lost 3-0 in their last league match while Uganda ‘s KCCA are third in their home league .Starting away will be advantageous for the City boys and a return leg at their tough Star Times stadium formerly Philip Omondi will be interesting

Another regional derby is down south where Swaziland giants have gone 22 matches without losing and want to do everything possible in respect to their slain chairman.They meet the 2017 ZSL Champions who havent started off their league.

Neighbours and rivals Zesco United who are the league defending champions and nothing to write about on the league form.they however had an invisible passage to this round putting 7 past Zanzibar side .Asec Mimosas are meeting them in a span of two years but this on on a knock out .The Ivorian giants have a massive 37 points after 14 matches and are 11 points clear of second placed Gagnoa

In Kenya Gor Mahia top of the KPL that just began have collected 13 points from 5 matches and are meeting Tunisian league leaders Esperance who are 5 points ahead of Club Africain .

CAF Confederations Cup winners and also Super cup silver medalists TP Mazembe take on UD Songo who are yet to play this season .Mazembe lead the Central South group of the Congolese league

In Ghana ,Aduana stars who are yet to start their season are facing an Entente Setif who are struggling in their domestic league .Setif are sitting fifth after 22 games having lost five games so far .Aduana stars have taken the match far away from the capital where they expect massive results .

Premerio de Agosta have played only two league matches back home ,lost one and drawn one.Wits are 8th in the PSL and may find it difficult in Angola with the free scoring Angolan side

Rayon Sports perfect domestic run in the Rwanda Primus league will be put to scrutiny when they face another side leading their country in Mamelodi Sundowns .The Kigali based side would want to keep off the controversy surrounding this match with fears of match fixing and a good result at home is expected despite the opponents pedigree.Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane knows what to do best and will be heading to join the team from Marakech,Morocco where he attended a CAF symposium .

In Nigeria ,MFM will find it hard to get past MC Alger.the people of God have been struggling in the NPFL where they have lost 5 of their 10 matches they have played in and are 16th on the log just a place above relegation.MC Alger are third in theAlgerian league .

Defending champions Wydad Cassablanca even after beating TP Mazembe to lift the super cup have had their worst season in two years .they have lost seven of the 19 league matches .they face fellow strugglers from Ivory coast in WAC who have played 14 matches

Al Ahly who are technically the Egyptian champions and are 21 points ahead of second placed Zamalek face CF Mounana of Gabon ,a team that sits 4th with only four matches played

In Tunisia ,giants Etoile du Sahel takes on Nigerian champions Plateau United with both teams sitting third in respective leagues although the latter have matches in hand

In Tanzania ,Yanga also known as Young Africans take on Botswana giants Township Rollers .Yanga trail leaders simba while Rollers are joint top with Jwaneng FC .

In Congo ,Difaa el Jadidi 10-0/aggregate winners in the preliminaries face Congolese giants AS Vita Club who are second in the east Zone

2018 CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST ROUND (1st Leg)

Difaa El Jadidi ?? vs. ?? AS Vita Club

Austin Oduor

talking African football