AS FAR of Morocco face a challenging test on Saturday evening when they host Tanzania’s Young Africans at 9:00 p.m. local time in Rabat, in Matchday Five of the CAF Champions League group stage.
The encounter carries added significance as it comes within Group B, which also features Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Algeria’s JS Kabylie, making the result closely followed by Al Ahly supporters.
Al Ahly currently top the group standings with eight points and are aiming to reclaim the continental title they failed to defend last season.
They hold a three-point advantage over both Young Africans and AS FAR, who sit second and third respectively, while JS Kabylie, African champions in 1981 and 1990, remain bottom with just two points.
AS FAR, champions of Africa in 1985, will be keen to make the most of home advantage as they look to avenge their 1–0 defeat to Young Africans in the opening round of the group stage.
A victory by more than one goal could see the Moroccan side secure qualification to the knockout phase as early as this round, without having to wait for their decisive final-group match against Al Ahly.
Young Africans, meanwhile, are targeting a positive result to strengthen their qualification hopes and maintain pressure on the group leaders heading into the final round.
Under the CAF Champions League format, the 16 qualified teams are divided into four groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
In the event of teams finishing level on points, head-to-head results are considered first, followed by goal difference and goals scored across the group stage.
In the quarter-finals, each group winner will be drawn against a runner-up from one of the other three groups, in accordance with the tournament regulations.
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