Algeria’s football representatives, MC Alger and CR Belouizdad, kick off their journey in the CAF Champions League today, Sunday, as they compete in the first leg of the preliminary round.
MC Alger, the reigning national champions, will return to African competition by facing Watanga FC tonight at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, with the match set to start at 20:00. Fans of “Chnaoua” are hopeful for a strong performance under the leadership of coach Amine Boumil, who guided them to their eighth national championship title after a remarkable season.
Coach Boumil commented on the upcoming match: “The preliminary round is crucial for us, and we will benefit from playing both legs in Algeria. We have players with great experience and skills that will help us overcome the initial hurdles in the continental competition. Afterward, we will have ample time to improve our preparations.”
However, “Le Doyen” will be without their central defender and captain Ayoub Abdellaoui, who is injured, as well as their new goalkeeper Toufik Moussaoui, who is suspended. Marouane Khalif will also be ineligible to participate in the competition.
If they advance to the second preliminary round, MC Alger will face the winner of the match between Tunisia’s US Monastir and Chad’s Association Sportive du Baté, with the first leg scheduled to take place abroad from September 13-15 and the return leg in Algeria from September 20-22.
Meanwhile, CR Belouizdad, the second Algerian representative in the CAF Champions League, will face the challenge of Congo’s AC Leopards today at the Alphonse Massamba-Débat Stadium in Brazzaville, with the match kicking off at 14:30.
The “Chabab,” who are participating in the CAF Champions League for the fifth consecutive time, aim for a successful start against a Congolese team that recently reclaimed the domestic league title after a seven-year hiatus.
Newly appointed coach Corentin Martins said about the match: “We will kick off our new season on Sunday with our first CAF Champions League match, and we are determined to work hard. The first leg in Brazzaville will be tough, but we are prepared to overcome this challenge.”
If they advance, “Sons of Laâqiba” will face the winner of the matches between Benin’s Cotton FC and Burkina Faso’s AS Douanes.
