CAF Champions League semi-finalists: African pedigrees and the four stars who could be pivotal

An all-star CAF Champions League semi-finals cast pits Esperance of Tunisia against Al Ahly of Egypt and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

The first legs are set for this Friday in Rades, behind closed doors due to recent crowd trouble, and Saturday in Casablanca, with the return matches taking place next weekend in Cairo and Pretoria.

Sundowns were the last sub-Saharan club to lift the trophy, in 2016, and Wydad, Esperance and record 10-time title holders Ahly have each won the premier African club competition twice since then.

If Wydad and Ahly progress, there will be back-to-back finals between the same clubs for the first time since Ahly met Asante Kotoko of Ghana in 1982 and again one season later. Defending champions Wydad defeated the Egyptian giants Ahly in last year's final.

AFP Sport looks at four of the stars who could play vital roles in deciding which teams advance to the two-leg final during June, as well as the pedigree of the top nations.

Powerful Sambou

Bouly Sambou of Wydad is the frontrunner to win the Champions League Golden Boot having scored seven goals in his first African campaign with the Moroccan giants.

He shares first place with Fiston Mayele from Young Africans of Tanzania, who have been eliminated, while Sambou can play at least two more matches, and possibly four.

Sambou is typical of so many west African forwards - tall, physically strong, powerful in the air, and capable of retaining possession under pressure until support arrives.

Creative Zwane

Captain Themba Zwane may have scored only two of Sundowns' 35 goals in 10 matches en route to the semi-finals, but his creativity is a key asset.

A master at keeping possession when surrounded by several rivals, his