GABORONE, Botswana, July 27, 2018 (News Wires) - An adrenaline-charged evening of football is on the cards tomorrow (July 28) as eight-time African champions and record 40 times Egyptian champions Al Ahly face domestic giants Township Rollers in a CAF Champions League Group A match at the National Stadium. The Blues (Township) are unbeaten at home in this season's Champions league, the qualifying rounds yielded a 3-0 victory against Al Merreikh of Sudan, and a goalless draw against Young Africans, while the only group stage match hosted by Rollers saw them trounce KCCA of Uganda 1-0. But, after losing 4-1 away to Esperance in Tunisia and 3-0 away to Al Ahly in Egypt, Township now find themselves in a delicate position; the remaining home games against Ahly and Esperance, as well as next month's away trip to KCCA in Kampala, crucial if a quarterfinal berth is to be secured. After a poor start, drawing at home to Esperance and losing away to KCCA in Kampala, Al Ahly roped in French coach Patrice Carteron, who has guided Mali to third place in the 2013 African Nations Cup, and won the 2015 Champions League with Mazembe. Since being roped in Carteron led Ahly to their first win of the group stage, the 3-0 triumph over Rollers, and he will look to continue making good use of his galaxy of stars, some of whom represented Egypt at the recent FIFA World Cup in Russia. Nigerian international Oluwafemi Junior Ajayi and his former CS Sfaxien teammate, Tunisian international Ali Maaloul linked beautifully during the first leg in Alexandria and will pose a threat from either flank. Ajayi is a forward with a knack of cutting in from the right wing; Maaloul, who also featured at the World Cup in Tunisian colours, is a left back with strong offensive characteristics, his 14 goals in the Tunisian league in 2016 a national record for a defender. Rollers will miss Mosha Gaolaolwe and Simisani Mathumo, suspended owing to accumulated yellow cards. Oscar Ncenga and Tshepo Motlhabankwe, the likely central defensive pairing, will need to be alert. Ofentse Nato also got injured while trying to make a goal line clearance as Al Ahly powered to their third goal in Alexandria recently, leaving captain Maano Ditshupo and Gape Mohutsiwa the likely central midfield pair.
