Sudan's Al-Hilal Omdurman can secure passage to the CAF Champions League quarterfinals if they defeat Algerian champions MC Alger on Sunday (19:00 GMT) in Mauritania. Hilal are perfect through three matches and the Group A leaders are in excellent position while MCA are on shaky ground in second place with Young Africans and TP Mazembe closing ground.
Group A Table
Games Played | Points | |
| 3 | 9 |
| 3 | 4 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 4 | 2 |
Al-Hilal
The darlings of the Champions League group stage, Al-Hilal are on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages despite being forced out of Sudan to Mauritania due to the ongoing war in their home country. Head coach Florent Ibengé continues to display his mastery of African football with a talented team that contains Sudan national team stars as well as imported talents from across the continent. The club is coming off their first defeat in five months after a highly rotated squad fell to defeat against Chemal FC in Mauritania's Super D1 where Hilal currently play their domestic league matches.
The league defeat should not damage any of Hilal's confidence. With important players rested for Sunday's match, Ibengé and his team will attempt to pressure MCA and seize control of the match. Youthful forwards Adama Coulibaly and Jean-Claude Girumugisha continue to show signs of brilliance behind striker, captain and attacking focal point Mohamed Abdelrahman who has four goals this season in the Champions League.
Ibengé counts on Senegalese defender Ousmane Diouf and his central partner, Sudanese veteran Altayeb Abaker, to maintain organization in front of talented young Ivorian goalkeeper Issa Fofana who is perhaps the best performing keeper in the group stage. Congolese right back Steven Ebuela and Mauritania national team left back Khadim Diaw are just as important and will contribute to both defense and attack on the flanks. Diaw's Mauritania teammate, Guessouma Fofana, continues to prove himself as an important connection between defense and attack from his central midfield position.
MC Alger
Under a new head coach, Khaled Ben Yahia, the 2024-25 season has been up and down for MCA but the club are showing positive signs. The defense remains consistent and the attack is beginning to improve after a long period of difficulty. Ben Yahia expressed his desire to turn the tables on Hilal and put them under pressure despite being away from home for Sunday's duel. MCA have a strong reputation of performing well on the road, earning a draw in their only previous Group A match away from home at TP Mazembe.
If MCA want to fulfill Ben Yahia's ambitions of a victory in Mauritania, striker Soufiane Bayazid will be crucial. Mostly used as a substitute this season, the former Khenchela star will be in the eleven after regular first choice striker Andy Delort failed to make the trip due to flu. Likely in support of Bayazid in the attack will be Tayeb Meziani and Zakaria Naidji who have had good moments but Naidji needs to show more after a breakout campaign last season.
The defense is the foundation of MCA's success led by fierce captain and central defender Ayoub Abdellaoui. Hamza Mouali and Mohamed Halaimia are capable fullbacks to provide support on the flanks but important central midfielder and Algeria Ligue 1 foreign player of the year Mohamed Zougrana continues to be out due to injury. Experienced Algerian midfielder Mohamed Benkhemassa will be crucial in possession for the visitors.
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