Mazembe sends strong warning

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Tuesday August 17, 2010 00:00

After three matches, unbeaten Mazembe sit at the top with seven points. The battle for supremacy in the group seems to be between the DRC side and Esperance who almost snatched an away win in Kinshasa on Sunday.

But Mazembe rallied from 1-0 down to run out 2-1 winners, which crucially, kept them at the top.

Despite the defeat, the Tunisians, who welcome Mazembe in the reverse fixture later this month, are favoured to progress to the semi-finals.

Dynamos of Zimbabwe registered their first win in the group by beating Algeria's Entente Setif. The Harare side won 1-0 at home and travel to Algeria for the return leg in a fortnight.

They still have a mountain to climb if they are to repeat their 1998 feat when they reached the final. Dynamos face Mazembe in DRC before winding their campaign with a home tie against Esperance. It looks highly unlikely for Dynamos and Setif to progress to the semi-finals from the group. In Group B, JS Kabylie from Algeria have all but booked their place in the semi-final after chalking a third straight win, beating Egyptian giants, Al Ahly 1-0. Despite the existence of another Egyptian side, Ismaily in the group, the seasoned Algerian campaigners are having a dream campaign.

Incredibly, the Algerian glamour club has not conceded in three outings and they should ensure their spot in the semi-final with victory or a draw away to Al Ahly in two weeks.

Nigeria's Heartland have confirmed their exit with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ismaily in Egypt. The Nigerians should have salvaged a point in the game, which could have gone either way. Heartland are coached by former Super Eagles midfielder, Samson Siasia. They anchor the log with one point. 

Group winners and runners-up will progress to the semi-finals, which will be played over two legs in October. The final, also to be contested over two legs, will first be played in the last week of October before the reverse fixture a fortnight later.