Sudan teams Al Hilal, Al Merriekh set for tricky CAF Champions League battles

_{Two teams from Sudan Al Hilal and Al Merriekh will be in action this evening in the group stage of the 2022/2023 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.}

_{Fresh from picking a 1-0 home win against African giants Al Ahly, the Sudan Premier League reigning champions Al Hilal will face a tricky Group B test away to Coton Sport at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua.}

_{“We know playing away against Coton Sport will not be easy, but the team is well prepared because we know what this game means to us,” says Al Hilal coach Florent Ibenge.}

_{After losing their opening match 1-0 to former champions Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa and beating Al Ahly, Ibenge’s team is placed in second place with 3 points. Mamelodi Sundowns who also beat Coton Sport in Cameroon 3-1 last week are top with 6 points.}

_{In Group D Al Merriekh will also be hoping to pick their first win when they host CR Belouizdad (Algeria) at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi, Libya. The Sudan team is hosting all their matches in Libya since their Club Stadium was not cleared by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).}

_{Al Merriekh are bottom of Group D after losing their opening match 1-0 away to Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) and settling for a goalless draw against Zamalek last week.}

_{On Saturday two other teams from the CECAFA Zone Vipers SC (Uganda) and Simba SC (Tanzania) will face-off in a Group C encounter at the St. Marys Stadium, Kitende. The two teams are yet to register wins after two matches each, although the Ugandan team managed to pick a point against Horoya AC (Guinea) last weekend after a goalless draw.}

Simba SC kick started their group stage campaign with a 1-0 defeat away to Horoya AC, and lost 3-0 to Raja Casablanca in Dar es Salaam last weekend. Vipers SC also got a rude welcome losing 5-0 away to Raja Casablanca, and picked a point against Horoya AC.