/ 4 November 1998

Champions League reaches climax

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 4.30pm.

THE mini-league phase of the African Champions League reaches a climax this weekend with four clubs chasing places in the two-leg final.

Hearts of Oak from Ghana must win by at least two goals away to Dynamos of Zimbabwe in Group A to prevent the Harare club becoming the first finalists from the Southern Africa state.

Manning Rangers of South Africa and ASEC of Ivory Coast share the Group B lead going into away fixtures against Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Young Africans of Tanzania respectively.

Rangers, who made their debut in this year’s competition, lead on goal difference – plus four to plus three – and will qualify for the final if they match whatever result ASEC achieve in Dar es Salaam.

A Southern Africa showdown between Dynamos and Manning Rangers will mark a dramatic shift in a competition dominated by North Africa since the mid-1980s with 13 triumphs in 14 years.–AFP