Sudan's Al Hilal could become the first team to make sure of a place in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League in what could well be a weekend of celebration for Nigerian football.

Al Hilal, who reached the last four of the continent's top club competition two years ago, will be guaranteed of a top two finish in Group A if they beat neighbours Al Merreikh in the Khartoum derby this evening. Key players from both sides were in action together for Sudan in the FIFA World Cup™ in Ghana last weekend but will now be in opposite camps as one of African football's fiercest club derbies is fought out. Al Merreikh could yet engineer an escape from their current place at the bottom of the group table but only if all the remaining results go their way, including posting a first win in the group after two draws and two losses in their previous matches.

The last match between the rivals in July ended goalless, after which Al Merreikh fired their coach. Nigeria's Kano Pillars host Zesco United of Zambia in the other Group A match, and a home victory on Sunday would be enough to see them through, provided Al Merreikh do not win this evening. Otherwise, Pillars would still need a point from their final match later in September to make 100 per cent sure. The match represents a last chance for Zesco United, but the Zambian side will know that visiting sides rarely fare well in Nigeria and that Pillars have seen off both previous guests in the group.

Boost for Etoile
In Group B, the winner of Saturday's tie between the top two, Heartland FC and TP Mazembe Englebert, will also advance to the last four Nigeria's Heartland have home advantage but are two points behind their Congolese opponents. A draw would be the ideal result for third placed Etoile Sahel, who are three points further back but still have hopes of snatching a semi-final berth.

The Tunisians have a home match on Saturday night against Zimbabwe's Monomotapa, whose already-slight hopes have been further dented by a series of player strikes over non-payment of wages. Etoile were considered the favourites going into the group phase in July, having won the CAF Champions League two years ago, but have endured a mediocre campaign thus far.

International midfielder Mohamed Ali Nakha sits out the game because of suspension but the club have received a timely boost with striking talent Mehdi Ben Dhifallah declaring that he wants to stay at the club next season despite being linked with a move to Europe. Heartland, meanwhile, have agreed the sale of striker Emeka Nwanna to Israeli outfit Apple FC and he could miss Saturday's game even though he would have hoped for a fond farewell in front of the club's fans.

The top two finishers in the two groups will advance to next month's semi-finals, which are to be played over two legs. The group winners' reward is that they will host the second legs.