- Merrikh and Hilal are both second in their groups
- They will be playing their fourth group stage matches at home
- Merreikh play away while Hilal will be at home
Sudanese giants Al Merrikh and Al Hilal will look to put their CAF Champions League quarter final hopes in balance when they play their fourth round group matches on Tuesday.
Al Merreikh play away to Algeria’s CR Belouizdad in a match that will have a great impact in the destiny of the group.
Merreikh are on four points at second spot in the group and a win for them will give them a huge opportunity to make the quarter finals. The Algerians are third in the group with three points and they will be keen to avoid defeat and keep their hopes afloat.
The Sudanese side are eager to win, despite a tough duel expected against CRB. They beat them 1-0 when they last met in Libya 10 days ago and are keen to complete a double. Belouizdad meanwhile have three points and a win will pull them into second spot.
Playing at home, they will look towards the push from the home fans to battle for a win and keep track of a quarter final slot.
Hilal host Cotonsport in Omdurman
And in Omdurman, in Omdurman, Al Hilal will host winless Cotonsport in the only Group B fixture this Tuesday. Hilal are second in the group with six points, one behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and will look to clinch victory over the winless Cotonsport to move top and put a firm grip on a quarter final ticket.
Hilal, under revered Congolese coach Florent Ibenge who won the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup with Morocco’s RS Berkane last season, have been in good form with two wins, their only defeat being a slim 1-0 loss away to Sundowns.
They are two points ahead of third place Al Ahly, with the Egyptian record champions set to face off with leaders Sundowns over the weekend. Victory in their Omdurman turf will give them a massive advantage and pile massive pressure on Ahly who travel down to South Africa.
Skipper Mohamed Abdel-Rahman said the team is looking to bag all three at home.
“The previous matches have not been as perfect as we would have wished, but the most important thing is that we picked wins. We have worked to improve where we went wrong and we will ensure we battle for a win,” said the forward.
His sentiments are shared by coach Ibenge who said; “This is an important match for us against a strong opponent. We are ready to fight for the three points and despite the fact that we will not have our fans for that match, we will fight for them.”
Zamalek, Esperance clash in North African derby
Elsewhere, Cairo will host what is expected to be a massive North African derby, with under pressure Zamalek hosting Esperance du Tunis in a match they must win to keep their quarter final hopes alive.
The White Knights who failed to make it beyond the group stage last season and with only one point from three matches at the bottom in Group D, they need a win at all costs.
They lost 2-0 to Taraji in Rades 10 days ago and revenge is on their minds to ensure they keep their hopes alive. A defeat will be detrimental to their hopes. Esperance on the other hand will put one foot into the quarter finals if they earn three points from the duel.
Esperance coach Nabil Maaloul expects a tough duel with his side looking to extend a 14-match
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