After critically analyzing the teams that are participating in the CAF champions League 2016,i realize that there are no surprise omission from the preliminary stages except for Kenyan giants Gor Mahia and Mbabane Swallows who faltered at the preliminaries despite making it to the first round in the previous edition.

However, the surprise team that made it to the first round was Burundian side Vital O who edged Lesotho Side Lioli.

I sampled the teams that have made it to the  first round of 16 and came up with the following predictions.

AS Vita Club vs Ferroviarro de Maputo

This is a big clash by standards, Vita Club is not new to this stage same as Ferroviarro. Vita Club reached the 2014 final and has experienced players which can change a game. I think they will progress to the next round where they will meet the winner between Sundowns and AC leopards.

Mamelodi Sundowns vs AC Leopards 

Sundowns are on fire in South Africa with a seven point gap while Leopards too are on fire in Congo. Winston Kalengo will be relied upon by the Congolese outfit who are not new to this tournament while Sundowns have a crop of star studded players that can win important matches. I see an away goal for Sundowns considering the leopards will play under pressure back home.

Warri Wolves vs Al Merreikh

Elimination of AL Merreikh at this stage is history and will be a surprise. The Sudanese side reached the last four of the previous tournament  and will have a real test when they clash with Nigerian giants Warri Wolves who easily eliminated Sao tome and Principe side Priai Cruz. This will be the first real challenge for Wolves and I don’t see them finding it easy in Omdurman in the reverse fixture. Wolves may win in Warri  but it will be a tall order in Omdurman. 

Etoile du Congo vs Entente Setif

Not much to talk about this match, Etoile du Congo toiled so hard to eliminate stubborn Managasport of Gabon  but with the Algerian team that won the Confederation cup last year and got a by in the preliminary round, it will be highly impossible for the Congolese side that finished second to AC leopards to progress. Setif are through by standards. 

Wydad Casablanca vs CNaps

A surprise passage for the Malagasy side who eliminated favourites Gor Mahia after the latter beat them in a similar fashion and stage last season. CNaPs are inferior to the Morrocan giants who beefed their squad with the inclusion of stars like Chikatara  a player that made headlines in the 2016 CHAN  tournament in Rwanda. They will easily progress through unless miracles happen.

St Georges vs TP Mazembe

An eeasier match for the defending champions but it will not be easy. St Georges will want to get the much needed victory in Addis Ababa to ease their chances of qualification. They are however meeting the defending champions who despite loosing their talisman Mbwana Samatta are still favourites to progress. St Georges have not been lucky as they met another giant in MC Eulma of Algeria who eliminated them on away goal. It will be another tough match but the defending champions will carry the day whatsoever.

Enyimba International vs Vital O

Wow! I feel so motivated by the fact that a Burundian side is in the first round. Despite the skirmishes back at their country. The CECAFA member progressed to the first round after matching past  Lioli of Lesotho. They however meet a wounded Enyimba who look superior on paper but inconsistent. Enyimba escaped the Vipers scare and at this stage they would not want to falter. They start at home and finish the match away in Bujumbura. Although it want be easy for the Nigerians, I see them going past Vital O

Olympique de Khouribga vs Etoile du Sahel

A  cracker of a match in the offing, both teams seems to be optimistic for a second round finish, it is a West African derby. However the Tunisian giants will see off the Morrocan side and hope  that Enyimba will be a step through to the group phase.

Stade Malien vs Coton Sport

An even match  between the Malian giants and the Cameroon an side. A crop of players that featured for the Malian in the CHAN 2016 . A match that can go either way  but despite the experience by Coton Sport and their chance of starting away, the Malian will cruise through. 

Zesco  vs Horoya

Another tough match on offer, Zesco is not new to the Champions League, they have been to the group phase of the Champions League, they face a Horoya side  that had star players in the CHAN 2016. Zesco have beefed up their side despite losing only Winston Kalengo  to AC leopards. They signed experienced players from Kenya and Nigeria. They will want to forget their painful exit last year at the same stage to AS Kaloum I see Zesco finishing the job at the Levi Mwanawasa stadium with the return leg a formality. 

APR vs Young Africans

Too close to call, all coaches and pundits are undecided on who will qualify to the second round. At least an East African  team has a chance of making it to the last round and possibly make it to the group phase. Yanga are on form and APR is  a team with depth and talented players. Yanga begin the tussle at the soldiers backyard meaning the return leg at the National stadium in Dar will attract a huge crowd though it is highly likely that a section of the crowd preferable the Simba fans will go for the opponents APR. I see penalties separating the side s though still undecided on which team. Last time APR lost to Egyptian opposition but I believe Yanga can match the Egyptian depth. Yanga will win. 

Recreativo do Lioli vs AL Ahly 

Not a big match for the Egyptians but no team is a push over entering this stage. AL Ahly will win this encounter on aggregate and hope to square it out with Yanga in the last round. 

Kaizer Chiefs vs ASEC Mimosas

ASEC Mimosas looks  favourites considering the floppy nature of the South African side who seems to be shaky domestically, they easily dismissed Moroni  of Comoros. I however think they will eliminate the Senegalese giants. 

AL Ahly Tripoli vs AL Hilal

We can call it the Arab derby and the Arab style of play will be measured here. However the Sudanese side coached by former leopards coach Lucy Eymael will have to sweat to make it to the second round. AL Ahly  Tripoli will win the first leg but lose away in Omdurman. I predict an AL Hilal aggregate win. 

Union Douala vs Zamalek

Zamalek are on fire scoring from all cylinders. They have former Southampton  striker Emmanuel Mayuka on the fold together with experienced Coach Alex McLeish. They recently signed Kenyan winning coach Scott Frank Nuttal  in the technical bench as the Clubs assistant. The Cameroon an side will make a less impact to a club with rich history and many African trophies. 

Club African vs MO Bejaia

This is a tough match considering that it’s kind of a derby. Club African though have not been performing well in the local league but this is another level altogether. MO Bejaia  shocked Ghanaian side Ashanti Gold, a team that was tipped to progress  far. They are destined to progress here with some hard luck. Penalties can not be ruled out.

After sampling out my teams after that predictions, my pair for the third round is as follows

AS Vita Club of Congo DR will take on Mamelodi Sundowns South Africa while Sudanese sides AL Merreikh  and AL Hilal  will battle Entente Setif and  Kaizer Chiefs respectively. 

Yanga will clash with Al Ahly  while Enyimba Wil meet Etoile du Sahel with Zesco  taking on Stade Malien. Mazembe will clash Casablanca as Zamalek takes on MO Bejaia. 

• Vita  Club losing narrowly to  Sundowns  
•     AL Merreikh will eliminate ES Setif with difficulties for a chance to the group stage       
•    TP Mazembe will routinely eliminate Wydad Casablanca of Morrocoo     
•    Etoile du Sahel will progress at the expense of Enyimba 
•    Zesco will  shock Stade Malien to reach the last eight
•    AL Ahly will relegate Yanga to the Confederations Cup play off

•      Kaizer Chiefs will lose the grip to giants AL Hilal of Sudan  
•      zamalek will stop MO Bejaia’s fine run 

The club that will form the group phase after the predictions

1.Mamelodi Sundowns of RSA

2.AL Merreikh of Sudan

3-TPMazembe of Congo DR

4-Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia

5-Zesco of  Zambia

6-Al Ahly  of Egypt

7-Al Hilal of Sudan

8-Zamalekof Egypt