TP Mazembe vs North African dominance – CAF Champions League 2010 semi-finals

Can TP Mazembe retain their trophy?

The 2010 African Champions League semi-finals have a very Maghreb/Egyptian feel to them this year. Perhaps this should come as no surprise. Of the last 29 tournaments, North African sides have provided 22 winners – a statistic that only serves to highlight the region’s incredible dominance of club football in Africa.

In the last ten years, only Hearts of Oak (Ghana), Enyimba (Nigeria) and last season’s winners TP Mazembe (DR Congo) have broken up North African dominance of the African Champions League. This year looks no different. With three of the four semi-finalists hailing from North Africa, that statistic could soon read 23 winners from 30 tournaments.

JS Kabylie, Al-Ahly and Esperance are the three teams North of the continent looking to bring home the trophy. Only holders TP Mazembe can stop the stranglehold. But can they retain their trophy? The two semi-finals are as follows:

JS Kabylie vs TP Mazembe
Espérance vs Al-Ahly

JS Kabylie vs TP Mazembe

The first semi-final sees holders TP Mazembe face form team JS Kabylie of Algeria. Winners in 1980 and 1991, the turn of a new decade seems to suit JS Kabylie. One of Algeria’s biggest clubs, the Tizi-Ouzou based outfit have won the most domestic league titles in Algeria and are flying in this season’s competition. Here’s a taste of what their supporters have to offer, from their recent 1-0 win over Ismaily:

Nicknamed the Canaries and sporting Norwich City-esque green and yellow kits, JS Kabylie were the only side to come through the last eight group phase undefeated and became the first team to qualify for the last four when remaining firm to survive a daunting atmosphere in Cairo against Al-Ahly. Under Swiss coach Alan Geiger, JS Kabylie have been compact and solid. Not the type to overrun teams going forward, the Algerians are a very defensively strong team who counter attack with aplomb. The draw in Cairo perfectly exemplified their qualities.

Standing between them and a place in the final are holders TP Mazembe. Former Senegal coach Lamine N’Diaye has only been in charge of the Congolese club for a month following Diego Garzitto’s departure as manager in September. N’Diaye has started well however, navigating a hitherto underwhelming group campaign and guiding the team into the last four. N’Diaye is trying to forge a greater team spirit at TP Mazembe, and the early signs are it is working quite well.

“I strongly believe in the collective,” said the 54-year old Senegalese. “I think the modern game has evolved and only teams that are prepared to work for each other and fight for each other are capable of succedding. This is what I am trying to inculcate in this team, collectivity,” he added.

Despite their status as holders, the absence of key players makes TP Mazembe the underdogs against JS Kabylie. The reigning African champions were rocked when inspirational captain Tresor Mputu and Guy Lisadulu were suspended by CAF for one year and eleven months respectively for their roles in a brawl, in a match in Rwanda in May which resulted in the referee calling off the game. A lot depends on the form of striker Dioko Kaluyituka, as TP Mazembe look to acquire a lead to defend for the second leg in Algeria.

Espérance vs Al-Ahly

The other semi-final pits one-time winner Espérance against Egyptian giants Al-Ahly.

Though Al-Ahly are the competition’s most successful club and feared by teams the continent over, their air of invincibility is not quite what it once was right now. Al-Ahly didn’t even make the last eight group stage in 2009’s edition, and stuttered their way through this year’s group with two wins, two draws and two defeats from six games.

Espérance coach Faouzi Benzarti recognised this fact prior to the game. “The current Ahly side are not the same impeccable side who dominated the African competition under Manuel Jose in recent times,” Benzarti told CNN Arabic, and his assessment holds weight.

Benzarti is an interesting character. The most successful Tunisian coach around, Benzarti is in his third spell in charge of Espérance and actually won the African Champions League with the club back in 1994. Since then he has also won three Tunisian league titles with the club.

Nicknamed the ‘Blood and Gold’, Espérance have been impressive in this season’s Champions League. Benzarti likes his teams to play attacking football and is renowned for instilling a winning mentality in whichever team he coaches. His managerial style is reflected in Espérance’s performances so far – the Tunisians were top scorers in the group stage and played an expansive, entertaining brand of football.

Al-Ahly have the weight of history behind them (as well as some exceptional players including Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagy to name but one), but Espérance are not be written off, especially with the second leg in Tunisia at the Stade du 7 Novembre.

That’s the lowdown ahead of the 2010 African Champions League semi-finals. Now you know the final four, who do you think will win the competition? Feel free to vote in the following poll and leave your opinions in the comments section below. The semi-finals will be played on 3rd October 2010 and the weekend of 15th-17th October 2010.

African Champions League, African Football, Al-Ahly, Esperance, JS Kabylie, TP Mazembe