Final berth in sight for Esperance

Tunisian champions, Esperance have one foot in the final of the 2011 Orange CAF Champions League ahead of this weekend’s second leg matches of the semi finals. The ‘Blood and Gold’ have an edge thanks to a lone goal victory over Sudanese side Al Hilal in the first leg in Omdurman a fortnight and are highly favoured to complete a double over the guests to reach ultimate lap. Esperance, winners in 1994 have performed creditably in this year’s campaign and are ranked amongst the favourites from the onset after putting behind their disappointing performance against TP Mazembe of DR Congo in last year’s final. The Tunisian giants are better placed to reach their fifth final in the premier continental club championship and their fourth since the inception of the new format. Under the technical guidance of Nabil Maaloul, Esperance have been in one of their best forms in recent times with flying performances from by captain Oussama Darragi, Mejdi Traoui, Youssef Mssakni, Yannick N’Djeng and co. and their success will be deemed as incomplete without the most sought after silverware in continental club football. For Al-Hilal, their long-cherished dream of reaching the finals of the premier continental club championships for the first time since 1987 remains unclear as they have to topple Esperance in Tunis to achieve that feat. The ‘Blue Waves’ have been the most consistent Sudanese club in the African club competitions in recent times, but the signs are tilting to a direction that, they would have to wait yet again to realize their dream of  winning the title considering the nature of the challenge against Esperance in the reverse fixture. Al Hilal coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic has rated Esperance as the best team in the competition but believes it is not beyond his charges to overturn the scoreline in this weekend’s encounter. “We are aware that the scales are heavily tilted in Esperance’s favour. There is still hope and I am optimistic of our chances,” Micho said ahead of the second leg. The next centre of attraction will be in Aba, southern part of Nigeria where Enyimba battles it out with Wydad Casablanca for the other final slot. Enyimba, winners in 2003 and 2004 are looking forward to annul a lone goal loss in the first leg in Casablanca to reach their third final. The Peoples’ Elephant have bowed out at this stage of the competition once in 2008 to then eventual winners, Al-Ahly of Egypt, and appear poised to reach farthest to set the tone for a third title. Enyimba are used to North African opponents at this stage after seeing off Algeria’s USM Algers and Esperance in 2003 and 2004 respectively, and the likes of Valentine Nwabil, Sam Ledor, Junior Osagie and Cletus Itodo look set to repeat the dose against the Moroccans. The Nigerians take enough motivation from a 2-0 win over Wydad’s city rivals, Raja Athletic Club at the group phase and have at least fair idea of the opposition. “It is not over for us. We are going to work hard and our fans should not be worried at all,” assured Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Chairman of Enyimba. For Wydad, winners in 1992, it will be their second trip to Africa’s most populous country after brushing past Kano Pillars at the knockout age. The ‘ Red and Whites’ have an impressive record away from home having lost once, 3-1 against MC Algers in their last six matches in the competition. Fixtures 15/10/11 Esperance (Tunisia) vs Al Hilal (Sudan) (1-0) 16/10/11 Enyimba (Nigeria) vs WAC (Morocco) (0-1)