Coton Sport face Sanga Balende challenge in ACL

Coton Sport will open their Champions League campaign when they host SM Sanga Balende of DR Congo in Garoua on Saturday.

The Cameroon champions failed to qualify for the group stage of the continental showpiece last year, defeated in the second round by eventuall winners ES Sétif after reaching the semifinals of the 2013 edition.

While they are regular guests at Africa’s foremost club competition, the ‘Cotonculteurs’ are yet to lift the trophy, with a runners-up finish in 2008 as their best achievement to date.

Still undefeated this season, manager Didier Gomes Da Rosa’s boys will be looking to secure the full points at home without conceding ahead of a tricky trip to DR Congo.

SM Sanga Balende are making their big return to the tournament, more than 30 years after their maiden and only appearance (1984), thanks to a runners-up finish in the DR Congo league last season.

They got past the preliminary round against Angolan side Recreativo do Libolo on the away goals rule, sealing a 2-0 home victory after suffering a 3-1 loss on the road.

It is the second meeting between the two outfits, who had faced each other in the round of 16 of the 2001 CAF Cup for a 4-2 aggregate win to the Cameroonians.

The match will kick off at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua at 16h30 CAT on Saturday.