USM Alger, Mazembe set for CAF League final

A second successive CAF Champions League final involving clubs from Algeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo seems likely with USM Alger and TP Mazembe favoured to qualify this weekend.

USM triumphed 2-1 away to Al Hilal of Sudan last weekend in the first leg of their semi-final, leaving the North Africans needing just a draw at the Stade Omar Hamadi in Algiers on Saturday to progress.

And history suggests an overall Algerian success as no club has reached the final of the marquee African club football competition after losing the first leg of a semi-final at home.

Four-time African champions Mazembe are in a less favourable position than USM having lost 2-1 away to another Sudanese side, Al Merrikh, in 35-degree celsius (95 fahrenheit) heat.

But the Congolese scored five goals in their last CAF home game and need just one on Sunday to go through on the away goals rule provided they keep a clean sheet.

Entente Setif of Algeria edged V Club of DR Congo in the 2014 final on away goals after a 2-2 deadlock in Kinshasa was followed by a 1-1 stalemate in Blida.

USM, whose leading scorer Youssef Belaili has been banned for two years after failing a group-stage drug test, have a perfect six-victory CAF home record this year.

The 2003 semi-finalists are also a team packed with potential scorers as 13 have contributed to 24 goals this season.

All are Algerians, except Malagasy Carolus Andriamatsinoro, and the team who wear a black and red outfit are coached by local Miloud Hamdi.

"My team were superb in the first leg, but we have not qualified yet," Hamdi warned. "I must put in place an appropriate strategy because Hilal play well away."

Hilal know the consequences of losing a semi-final at home better than any other African club, having fallen at the penultimate hurdle in 2009 and 2011 following first-leg defeats in Omdurman.

But Tunisian coach Nabil Al Kouki is putting on a brave face although his side have won only once on the road in six CAF outings this season.

"We have not lost hope of qualifying for the final," he insisted. "Our second-leg mission will be difficult, but not impossible."

A Hilal attack spearheaded by Mudather 'Careca' Eltaib have to score twice to have any hope and USM have not conceded more than one goal during any of their six victories.

Angered by the loss in Sudan, France-born Mazembe coach Patrice Carteron expects a major improvement before a capacity 20,000 crowd at Stade Mazembe in southern Congolese city Lubumbashi.

"Our first-leg performance ranks among the low points of this year," said the former Mali coach.

"I received an unpleasant surprise -- we were far too individualistic," added the 45-year-old who has described coaching Mazembe as a "dream job".

Tanzanian Mbwana Samatta, Zambian Rainford Kalaba and Ivorian Roger Assale are potential Mazembe match-winners.

Merrikh coach Diego Garzitto remains confident after Bakry 'Al Medina' Babiker snatched a late first-leg winner with his sixth Champions League goal this season.

"We are going to attack in DR Congo with Babiker just one of many potential scorers. Our lead is narrow but we have nothing to worry about," he said.

Widely travelled Italy-born Garzitto steered Mazembe to the 2009 Champions League title on away goals over Heartland of Nigeria.