Al Ahly SC
Manager
Marcel Koller
The decorated Swiss coach arrived at Ahly after the club experienced a catastrophic 2021-22 season by their standards, finishing outside the top-2 of the Egyptian Premier League for the first time since the 1991-92 season. Koller earned the respect of the club’s demanding supporters with Ahly back on track in top spot to go along with two victories over hated rivals Zamalek. The former Austria national team and FC Basel head coach is managing his squad very well to avoid fatigue and injuries so far but the real challenge comes after the club completes their participation at the FIFA Club World Cup where fixture congestion is at its highest with domestic and continental obligations.
Key Players
Hamdi Fathi- Central Midfield
Ahly’s excellent midfield has the technical skill from Amr El Solia along with the excellent work rate and defensive security Aliou Dieng brings but Fathi brings a little bit of everything. The 28-year-old’s influence may be difficult to see at first but over time viewers of Ahly realize that Fathi is the complete package with excellent consistency. Fathi is at the peak of his career and continues to be the most reliable player in the Ahly squad outside of goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
Mohamed El Shenawy- Goalkeeper
The 34-year-old goalkeeper is as solid as a rock for both Ahly and the Egypt national team. In a team that has several reliable players the native of Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coast is the ultimate icon of consistency, proving his brilliance on the biggest possible stage of club football with excellent performances across two FIFA Club World Cups as well as a Man of the Match performance on his FIFA World Cup debut against Uruguay in 2018. Released by Ahly after graduating from the club’s academy but earned his way back to the club after seven seasons with fellow Egyptian Premier League clubs El Gaish, Haras El Hodood and Petrojet.
Ahmed Abdelkader- Winger/Forward
The 23-year-old attacker has excellent dribbling skill that can break down opposition defenders and create opportunities to score or provide assists to his teammates. A graduate of Ahly’s youth academy, Abdelkader spent time at the reserve team of Czech side Sparta Prague before returning to Ahly and thriving on loan with Alexandria club Smouha, returning for the 2021-22 season and quickly becoming a star for Ahly. Abdelkader scored eight goals and provided seven assists in a busy first season back at Ahly, something he is more than capable of improving on if he stays healthy.
PAF’s Evaluation
Goalkeeper:
Defense:
Midfield:
Attack:
Al-Hilal Omdurman
Manager
Florent Ibengé
The Congolese coach who made his name as a manager with the DR Congo national team and with top Kinshasa side AS Vita Club is an example to follow for all French-speaking coaches in sub-Saharan Africa. Ibengé had a mixed spell at Moroccan club RS Berkane but managed to win the 2021-22 CAF Confederation Cup despite a poor domestic campaign, allowing him to leave with a notable accomplishment before joining an interesting mission at Sudan’s top club. The 61-year-old pledged to lead Al-Hilal to the quarterfinals of this season’s CAF Champions League and after making some notable signings there is reason to believe the Crescent can perhaps pose a stiff challenge to African heavyweights Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Key Players
Mohamed Abdelrahman- Forward
Abdelrahman is an icon in Sudanese football and the 29-year-old is approaching his national team’s all-time record for goals scored as he prepares to embark on another CAF Champions League campaign with Hilal. In a team that has plenty of foreign talent, Abdelrahman continues to stand out as the team’s greatest attacking threat. Hilal will need his goals to reach the knockout stages of the CAFCL for the first time since 2015 when he was breaking into the team as a young talent.
Abdul Ajagun- Central Midfield
A star for Nigeria youth national teams, the diminutive attacking midfielder’s journeyman club career has taken him to Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Cyprus and South Africa before joining Al-Hilal ahead of last season where the 29-year-old is thriving. Ajagun moves swiftly with the ball at his feet and can create as well as score important goals. It remains to be seen if Ibengé will lean on Ajagun as much as his coaching predecessor but the Nigerian and Malawian playmaker Gerald Phiri should continue to be involved this season.
Makabi Lilepo- Midfielder/Winger
Lilepo is a well known favorite of coach Ibengé going back to the tactician’s time with AS Vita Club as well as when he managed DR Congo’s team at the 2020 African Nations Championship, where the now 25-year-old was in the eleven for all four matches. A tricky winger whose versatility allows him to play in a central midfield role or the forward line, Lilepo is capable with either foot and is guaranteed to get his chance in the CAFCL group stage considering his history with Ibengé
PAF’s Evaluation
Goalkeeper:
Defense:
Midfield:
Attack:
Coton Sport
Manager
Gabriel Haman
The Coton Sport manager acknowledged the massive task ahead of his team in Group B, labeling the Cameroonian champions as the least regarded side in a group that contains former African champions Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns. However the coach who was named Best Manager at the 2022 Cameroonian Ballon d’Or awards has some talented young players in his squad and will enjoy having no expectations in each of their CAFCL matches. It will be an excellent opportunity for the Cameroonian domestic double winners and Haman after the club from the country’s far north struggled in the 2021-22 CAF Confederation Cup group stage last season.
Key Players
Djawal Kaïba- Central Midfield
The soon to be 20-year-old midfielder did not have the impact expected of him with Cameroon at the 2022 African Nations Championship but Kaïba showed signs of why he is one of the most regarded players in Cameroonian domestic football. Kaïba has a variety of skills in the center of the pitch where he can distribute the ball and do the defensive work, something that was on display last season in Coton Sport’s participation at the CAF Confederation Cup. Look for him to roam around the midfield with plenty to prove against Africa’s top clubs.
Che Malone- Central Defense
Another important member of Cameroon’s 2022 African Nations Championship team along with club teammate Kaïba, Malone played every minute in Algeria and earned a first appearance for Cameroon’s senior national team in an unofficial November friendly against Jamaica. The 23-year-old is very comfortable with the ball at his feet with the ability to dribble by opposition players and distribute with confidence.
Gadin Allambatnan- Goalkeeper
The almost 23-year-old shot stopper continues to develop well with Coton Sport and has become the undisputed number one goalkeeper after starting all of Coton Sport’s group stage matches last season in the CAF Confederation Cup. Allambatnan is also breaking into the setup for the Chad national team and will get another opportunity to show he has improved on a big stage after having some shaky moments in continental competition last season.
PAF’s Evaluation
Goalkeeper:
Defense:
Midfield:
Attack:
Mamelodi Sundowns
Manager
Rulani Mokwena
Still a young and rising coaching talent, the 36-year-old Mokwena was co-manager last season with Manqoba Mngqithi but graduated to being the sole head coach after Mngqithi was demoted during a brief spell of inadequate form for Sundowns in October 2022. The former assistant to South African coaching legend Pitso Mosimane is continuing to show his growing player management skills and tactical acuity with Sundowns in the best current form the club has enjoyed in some time even by their lofty standards. Mokwena continues to show his ability to adapt based on the opponent with Sundowns shifting between a couple of different formations over the course of the current season.
Key Players
Peter Shalulile- Striker
The Namibian marksman has made South Africa’s DStv Premiership his hunting ground for several seasons and is by far the league’s most effective scorer. With 47 goals in 60 appearances over the past two-and-a-half season with Sundowns, Shalulile is a penalty box predator who is back in top form after missing a couple of months due to injury. While his league form is impeccable the 29-year-old has yet to translate his scoring to CAF competition with 6 goals in 17 appearances, something he will look improve upon.
Ronwen Williams- Goalkeeper
Expectations were as high as they could be when Williams joined Sundowns for the 2022-23 season after graduating from the youth academy to become a star for SuperSport United and the South Africa national team but it could be argued he is exceeding the demands from supporters. The 31-year-old has come up big for South Africa’s top club when the Brazilians need it and could be a major factor in the knockout stages with Sundowns’ big aspirations. With African legends Denis Onyango and Kennedy Mweene backing up Williams, Sundowns easily have the best group of goalkeepers in African club football.
Rushine De Reuck- Central Defense
There are numerous stars in the Sundowns squad who can be featured here but De Reuck emerged in a major way last season, playing a starring role in the club’s sweep of Egyptian titans Al Ahly during the CAFCL group stage last season. A determined center back who is capable of marking the best forward on any team in Africa, De Reuck needs to continue his growth because defense is the only area in which Sundowns look a bit susceptible.
PAF’s Evaluation
Goalkeeper:
Defense:
Midfield:
Attack:
Prediction
- Al Ahly SC
- Mamelodi Sundowns
- Al-Hilal Omdurman
- Coton Sport
