Sudan's Al-Hilal are flying high in the CAF Champions League but will face their greatest challenge in Group A on Saturday evening with a tough test in Algeria against MC Alger. A dramatic victory last weekend against TP Mazembe leaves Hilal in first place with six points but MCA, on four points, can claim first place with a victory at home.
MC Alger
Coach Patrice Beaumelle has some problems to deal with ahead of Saturday's clash. Ivorian midfielder Mohamed Zoungrana is out after suffering an injury last week against Young Africans and the former ASEC Mimosas star is an important player. Reports indicate that Beaumelle will need a player like Zakaria Draoui to play a more defensive role due to the fact that Zoungrana's natural replacement, Akram Bouras, is injured as well and doubtful for the match. An important note is that MCA will host the match behind closed doors due to crowd trouble in the Champions League qualifying stage clash with US Monastir of Tunisia.
The defensive line remains reliable for MCA with Ayoub Abdellaoui the marshal from his central defender position. Draoui's use of the ball will be crucial against a quick Al-Hilal side that can strike on the counter. Good news for Beaumelle is that one of his strikers is finding form after Soufiane Bayazid came on as a substitute to score late against Young Africans. If Beaumelle wants to send a message to misfiring high-priced striker Andy Delort he has an option in Bayazid who has scored over ten goals for MCA and USM Khenchela in each of the last two seasons.
Al-Hilal
Despite being based outside Sudan in Mauritania where they are hosting their home fixtures, it has been a dream start for the charges of head coach Florent Ibengé. The Congolese tactician masterminded a victory against Young Africans in the hostile environment of Dar es Salaam and his team managed a victory in Mauritania against TP Mazembe despite an uneven performance. Ibengé stressed the need to avoid complacency and focus on getting a positive result in Algiers.
Ibengé continues to show he is a genius at motivating his players whether they are veterans or young talents. 18-year-old attacker Adama Coulibaly was the hero against Young Africans but last week it was 20-year-old Burundi national team star Jean-Claude Girumugisha who scored the crucial goal. Captain and Sudan national team talisman Mohamed Abdelrahman is the star but a strong defense and the continuing emergence of recent signing Guessouma Fofana, a regular with the Mauritania national team, is adding strength and power to the heart of the midfield.
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