Esperance of Tunisia dropped two precious African Champions League points when held 0-0 by Asec Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire this weekend.
Al-Ahly of Egypt, seeking a record third consecutive title, are favoured to top Group B, leaving Esperance and Asec to fight for the other semifinal slot with Al-Hilal of Sudan.
And having taken a point from the first-round match at Al-Menzah Stadium in the Tunisian capital, 1998 champions Asec will believe they hold the advantage ahead of the return encounter on August 19 in Abidjan.
The ”Blood and Gold” from Tunisia did have chances to collect maximum points as Saber Khalifa and Hicham Aboucherouane struck the woodwork in the opening half and Asec did well to survive a stoppage-time onslaught.
Asec have matured in recent years despite constantly losing their best players to Europe, adding steel under coach Patrick Liewig.
Coach Patrick Liewig had to watch the match from the stands as he is serving a four-match touchline ban for aggressive behaviour towards a referee during a qualifying match in Sierra Leone.
Esperance also have a French coach, Jacky Dugueperoux, and he will be concerned by long periods in which his team barely troubled Asec, and a moment of madness from goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui.
Given ample time to clear, Kasraoui hesitated and was dispossessed by Nafiu Iddrisu, whose stab at the ball sent it trickling towards the goal until the keeper recovered and kicked it clear.
Asec goalkeeper Mohamed Kabore also had a lucky escape as time ticked away, failing to grasp a long pass, but substitute Salama Kasdaoui failed to take advantage.
Ahly launch their group campaign late on Sunday at home to Hilal, many of whose players have helped Sudan reach the African Nations Cup tournament for the first time in 31 years. – Sapa-AFP