A total of 17 teams from the COSAFA region will be in CAF club competition action this weekend as they seek to advance to the next stage of the African Champions League and Confederation Cup tournaments.
In some cases they go head-to-head in titanic regional battles, not least the intriguing tie between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Zimbabwe champions Chicken Inn.
The latter lead 1-0 from the first leg but must travel to Pretoria this weekend to face a fired-up Sundowns.
Both coaches have said they have a plan, but what will be clear is that the home side will have to make the running and try to break down the resolute Gamecocks defence.
St Michel United of the Seychelles have it all to do as they try to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the away leg in Ethiopia against Kedus Giorgis, while South Africa champions Kaizer Chiefs should complete the job when they entertain Comoros side Volcan Club with a 4-0 first leg lead.
Lesotho side Lioli face a challenge away in Burundi against Vital’O as they trail 2-1 from the home leg, but Zambian side ZESCO United will be confident of completing the job when they travel to South Sudan to face Al-Ghazal with a 2-0 advantage.
Swaziland champions Mbabane Swallows hold a slender 1-0 advantage over APR of Rwanda, but will know that an away goal will leave their opponents needing to score three times.
Madagascar club CNaPS Sport claimed an excellent 2-1 away victory over Gor Mahia in the first leg of their tie and will now enjoy home comforts this weekend.
Recreativo do Libolo of Angola hold a commanding 5-1 lead over Equatorial Guinea’s Racing de Micomeseng in the final Champions League tie involving COSAFA teams.
Mozambique’s Ferroviário Maputo were handed a walkover win into the next stage of their Botswana opponents Mochudi Centre Chiefs withdrew from the competition.
There will also be a number of sides involved in the Confederation Cup with the South African duo of Ajax Cape Town and BidVest Wits looking to seal their passage at home.
Ajax lead Angolan side Sagrada Esperança 2-1 from the away leg, while Wits were 3-0 winners in the Seychelles against Light Stars.
Zimbabwe outfit Harare City hold a slender 3-2 lead over Malagasy side AS Adema that will be difficult to defend away from home, while Fomboni Club of the Comoros go to Burundi to face Atletic Olympic with a 1-0 lead.
