Photo Credit: Raja Club Athletic
A Group B clash is among the opening matches from Saturday's action in the CAF Champions League when Congolese upstarts AS Maniema Union host Raja Casablanca. Maniema Union, without a stadium that meets CAF requirements, will do battle with the Green Eagles at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa at 13:00 (1pm) GMT as they look to follow up on a surprise draw at Mamelodi Sundowns in their opening Group B match.
AS Maniema Union
If Maniema Union want to advance out of Group B they need goals from striker Japhte Kitambala. Photo Credit: AS Maniema Union
Congolese clubs are always capable of surprising and Les Verts et Noirs caught Sundowns off guard in Pretoria where the hosts paid the price for using a heavily rotated squad. Maniema Union coach Papy Kimoto, previously a successful player who represented DR Congo on the international stage, is a rising tactician in the Congolese scene whose attention to defense and organization makes his team a capable opponent despite lacking the big budget of the other clubs in Group B. Of note, Maniema Union followed up their draw with Sundowns by suffering their first defeat of the domestic league campaign last weekend.
The Green and Blacks will need to find a way to generate goals if they want to advance and poor finishing prevented a stunning victory from their first match in Pretoria. Former TP Mazembe striker Japhte Kitambala has the physical qualities to thrive but the 25-year-old has disappointed supporters since arriving. Winger Jeancy Mboma has provided plenty of good service to Kitambala and his immense pace could cause problems for the Raja defense. A strong defensive unit anchored by captain Osée Ndombele is supported by promising goalkeeper Brunel Efonge who performed well against Sundowns.
Raja CA
Raja coach Ricardo Sá Pinto relieved some pressure with his first victory last weekend
Photo Credit: Raja Club Athletic
After an excellent 2023-24 season that saw them complete a domestic double, Raja are in the midst of a difficult period in the 2024-25 campaign. Coach Ricardo Sá Pinto finally earned his first victory last weekend in the domestic Botola Pro league after seven matches without a win in all competitions. Now the Green Eagles have began a long African road trip and are preparing for the difficulties of playing mid-day in the heat and humidity of sub-Saharan Africa with a trip to Mamelodi Sundowns following Saturday's match in Kinshasa.
Sá Pinto previously claimed that his team are unlucky after having the majority of opportunities in their 2-0 defeat against fellow Moroccan club AS FAR in the Group B opener and there is potential in the team. Attacking midfielders Adam Ennafati and Naoufel Zerhouni are beginning to find their form but the lack of a pure striker is troubling. Could Algerian Yousri Bouzok get an opportunity from the beginning? In a match that appears likely to be decided by small details, Raja will depend on their defense anchored by goalkeeper and captain Anas Zniti.
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