One thing is certain ahead of Sunday's CAF Champions League semi-finals: there will be a Nigerian side in the final of this year's competition.

For only third time in some 40 years of competition, two clubs from the same country clash at this vital juncture to seek a place in the final and, ultimately, the chance of claiming a spot at December's FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. Nigeria's Heartland host Kano Pillars host in the first leg of their last four clash in Owerri on Sunday, with the return is in Kano on 17 October.

The progress of the two teams comes a major fillip for the giant west African nations, whose ambitions in other forums have been stymied of late. The Super Eagles are in perilous danger of again missing out on the FIFA World Cup, while their youth side have been unconvincing at the ongoing U-20 finals, scraping into the last 16 after losing to Venezuela and Spain.

Heartland are sweating on the fitness of Signs Chibambo, who is nursing a thigh injury. The Zambian striker suffered the injury during his club's 2-1 Group B loss at Zimbabwe's Monomotapa last month. "He has resumed training, but we will just have to wait and see whether he will be fully fit for the match," said Heartland team manager Emeka Iwuagwu. Chibambo, whose contract with Heartland runs out next month, recently underwent trials in Portugal.

We go there without any fears and the intention of pulling off a good result. We won't miss out on the chance to set ourselves up comfortably for the second leg.
Mazembe coach Diego Garzitto

Al Hilal of Sudan, who reached this stage of the competition two years ago, will hope to seize this second opportunity when they take on TP Mazembe Englebert of Congo DR. The first leg is in Khartoum on Sunday.

Mazembe, who were the kings of African football some four decades ago, are the only team with previous success in the continent's top club competition. However, their last triumph in 1968 seems so long ago now; there are generations who follow the club who have little recollection of those glory days.

Nevertheless, the club have been ambitious in attempting to restore their past luster. Mining entrepreneur and governor of the rich Katanga province, Moise Katumbi, has been the driving force, pumping millions of dollars into his beloved club.

He has bought the country's best players, hired former French international Diego Garzitto to coach his side and, most importantly of all, held off on a myriad of suitors to ensure that his prized possession, goalscoring machine Tresor Mputu, stays with the club. Mputu has been the leading scorer in African club competition for two successive years, and even though his goal tally this year has not been as prolific, he remains the key man for Les Corbeaux.

Opponents Al Hilal are also one of the continent's more profitable teams, with a bevy of Brazilian trainers and players. Yet Garzitto remains confident: "We go there without any fears and the intention of pulling off a good result. We won't miss out on the chance to set ourselves up comfortably for the second leg in Lubumbashi in two week's time."