Photo Credit: Mouloudia Club d'Alger
Group A appears to be wide open and is shaping up to be the most competitive group in the CAF Champions League group stage. On Saturday evening it will be Algiers giants MC Alger who host famous Dar es Salaam club Young Africans with both teams looking for their first victories.
MC Alger
After leading ASEC Mimosas to the semifinals of the 2022-23 CAF Confederation Cup, central midfielder Mohamed Zoungrana is continuing his rise with MCA
Photo Credit: Mouloudia Club d'Alger
Head coach Patrice Beaumelle and his charges have lacked a crucial component to success in football lately...goals! A 0-0 draw in DR Congo against TP Mazembe opened their Champions League group stage campaign and that result was followed by another scoreless draw with ES Sétif in Algeria's Ligue 1 Professionnelle. Following the departure of top scorer Youcef Belaïli to Tunisian titans Espérance the issue of scoring goals continues to haunt MCA.
French-born former Algeria national team striker Andy Delort was brought in to replace the production of Belaïli but after scoring in consecutive matches in mid-November he is cold once again. Soufiane Bayazid, author of 12 goals with Khenchela in the 2022-23 Algerian top division season, may be called upon on Saturday but it appears that Beaumelle and MCA have placed all their hopes on Delort to rediscover his scoring touch.
The defense inspires more optimism for MCA supporters. Captain Ayoub Abdellaoui may return after missing the league match with ESS to form a strong partnership with Ayoub Ghezala. Ivorian midfielder Mohamed Zoungrana, acquired from ASEC Mimosas before last season, continues to perform well in Algerian midfielder and is a strong presence in the middle of the park.
Young Africans
Ivorian central midfielder Pacôme Zouzoua is a bright spot in a disappointing campaign so far for Young Africans
Photo Credit: Young Africans Sports Club
For Yanga there are similar concerns regarding recent form but the Citizens managed to end a three-match losing streak by defeating Namungo 2-0 in action from the Tanzania Mainland Premier League. Still, a 2-0 home defeat to Al-Hilal in their Group A opener from the Champions League and two shocking home defeats in domestic league play leaves plenty of questions for recently appointed head coach Sead Ramovic.
Despite keeping many players from their successful 2023-24 season that saw them reach the Champions League quarterfinals, the Yanga attack continues to struggle and is showing no signs of being able to thrive at the highest level of African club football. Congolese winger Maxi Mpia Nzengeli, Zambia's Kennedy Musonda, Kenyan acquisition Duke Abuya and Zimbabwean goal scorer Prince Dube have all showed quality only in moments and not at the same time. The most consistent attackers continue to be Burkina Faso national team forward Stephane Aziz Ki and rising Tanzania national team talent Clement Mzize.
Similar to MC Alger, the strength and consistency lies in the defense for Yanga. Mali national team goalkeeper Djigui Diarra has a wealth of experience in CAF club competitions and will hope to recover from a poor performance against Al-Hilal. Dickson Job and Ibrahim Bacca are reliable central defenders who are not only the central partnership for Yanga but also the Tanzania national team that qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Ivorian midfielder Pacôme Zouzoua could provide extra attacking support from the central midfield as well as his compatriot Kouassi Attohoula Yao from the right back position.
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