Kano Pillars, Ahly Killers – African Champions League 2009 Spices Up

The African Champions League is back on our radars at the moment after the draw for the tournament’s 2009 final eight group stage took place last week.

And while unpredictability is doubtless one of the defining characteristics that makes the Confederation of African Football (CAF) version of the competition so compelling, I don’t think even the most radical thinking of forecasters could have seen this final eight coming. There were quite a few surprise qualifiers, to say the least.

Of the eight teams remaining in the 2009 CAF Champions League only two (TP Mazembe and Al-Hilal) managed to get as far last season, a far cry from the UEFA version of the tournament in which three of the four semi-finalists in 2008 were there again in 2009 (FC Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United).

In fact statistically Africa’s premier continental club competition is one of the most diverse to be found anywhere in world football. The African Champions League has produced 25 different champions in 45 instalments at a ratio of 0.56, much higher than the UEFA Champions League ratio of 0.38 or the Copa Libertadores ratio of 0.44 in South America, and is only rivalled by CONCACAF’s marginally higher ratio of 0.59, achieved largely thanks to a year in which three teams shared the prize. This is of course excluding the Asian Champions League, where constant changes to the criteria determining which nations can participate has resulted in a disproportionate number of different winners.

It is this perennial freshness of competition that makes the CAF Champions League such an absorbing tournament, and the tradition has continued in 2009.

So which clubs made it into the CAF Champions League last eight this year? Well, no Cotonsport Garoua. No Dynamos. No ASEC Mimosas and no Enyimba. The draw threw up the following two groups:

Group A

Al-Hilal (SUD)
Al-Merreikh (SUD)
Kano Pillars (NIG)
ZESCO United (ZAM)

Group B

Etoile du Sahel (TUN)
Heartland FC (NIG)
Monomotapa United (ZIM)
TP Mazembe (DRC)

Followers of African football, I imagine, will have a similar reaction upon reading that list. ‘What! No Al-Ahly?!’ It is a common cry when assessing this year’s last eight. And it is a fair remark. The holders, the most successful team in the competition’s history, the superpower of African football failed miserably this season and are out, eliminated by none other than Kano Pillars of Nigeria.

Kano Pillars hail from Kano, Nigeria’s third largest city with a population of nearly 4 million. Before 2007/2008 the club had never even won a Nigerian league title, but having qualified for the CAF Champions League as domestic champions they have taken to the competition like a duck to water, or a pig to a common cold even. Knocking out the holders Al-Ahly on away goals, after earning an immensely creditable 2-2 draw in Cairo, represents one of the highest points in Kano Pillars’ history. The famous achievement consequently earnt them the nickname ‘Ahly Killers’ back in their homeland. Truly were the giants slain.

Whether the Pillars can navigate their way to the last four in what is a very tough group remains to be seen. But for now, the euphoria of getting this far has given the club a massive boost and eased the disappointment of not retaining the Nigerian Premier League.

Elsewhere both Al-Merreikh and TP Mazembe look good. Sudan’s Al-Merreikh have invested a lot of money in the current squad, including a $2.5 million move for 2008 CAF Champions League top scorer< /span> Stephen Worgu, and will take some stopping. Meanwhile two-time winners TP Mazembe possess a settled squad and only narrowly missed out on the semis last season. Al-Hilal are another who cannot be overlooked.

But, then again, if the African Champions League has taught us anything in recent years, it is not to ignore any team’s prospects, no matter how small.

For more about the format of this competition, click here. Group stages begin in July. Let us know your thoughts on the competition by leaving your comments in the field below.

African Champions League, African Football, Al-Ahly, Al-Hilal, Al-Merreikh, Etoile du Sahel, Heartland FC, Kano Pillars, Monomotapa United, Nigeria, TP Mazembe, ZESCO United