DR Congo’s AS Vita will be looking to secure their maiden Confed Cup final berth with victory over Egyptian side Al Masry, while Raja Casablanca are hot favourites against Nigerian side Enyimba.
Runners-up in the group with three wins from their six matches, Congolese giants AS Vita were resounding 4-2 aggregate winners over Moroccan club RSB Berkane which booked their place in the last four of this year’s competition. A goalless draw in Egypt three weeks ago was an acceptable result considering their exceptional home form ahead of tonight’s clash at the Stade des Martyrs, where they’ve won all five of their fixtures in this year’s competition, scoring 11 goals in the process and conceding just two.
Opponents Al Masry will no doubt be put under pressure by the expectant 80 000-strong home crowd, but know that a score draw will take them through to their first-ever continental final. Led by legendary Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan, Al Masry are unbeaten in 13 Confederation Cup games this year, having last tasted defeat in a narrow second leg qualifying loss to Green Buffaloes in February.
The first-time semi-finalists booked their spot in the last four after 1-0 victories both home and away against Algerian giants USM Alger, having come second in their group with three wins and three draws in their six round robin encounters.
Five-time CAF Champions League winners Raja Casablanca are the only side from the four left in the tournament to have won this competition before, back in 2003, and are overwhelming favourites to reach a second final this year. Abdelilah Hafidi’s goal in Nigeria three weeks ago means they enter tonight’s home leg with a distinct advantage, backed by the form of red-hot goalkeeper Anas Zniti who has not been beaten in 461 minutes of play.
Casablanca won their group, suffering just one defeat, before overcoming CARA Brazzaville of Congo 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, and will be desperate to go all the way this year, having last lifted a continental trophy 15 years ago in the now defunct CAF Cup.
Enyimba know they have their work cut out for them, and will need to score to have any chance of progressing. This won’t be an easy task, with the Nigerian side having netted just four goals in their last six away games in the competition.
Enyimba have blown hot and cold so far this competition, losing two games but still topping their group, before scoring five at home in a 5-1 aggregate victory over Rayon Sports in the quarter-finals.
With the Nigerian domestic league suspended, Enyimba have done relatively well to get this far considering their lack of game-time, but with their top scorers in the team on just two goals, and needing at least one at what will be a packed 60 000-seater Stade Mohammed V, the odds are against them reaching a first Confederation Cup final.