Sports - Egypt's Zamalek Cling To Slim Champions League Hopes

Zamalek need a win this weekend and a favour from fellow Cairo club Al Ahly to have any chance of surviving the African Champions League group phase.

Victories for the two Egyptian sides would give Ahly an unassailable eight-point lead in Group B and bring Zamalek back into contention for second place.

In Group A, defending champions Esperance have a five-point advantage over fellow Tunisians Etoile du Sahel.

The pair will meet at the Stade Olympique d'El Menzah.

The top two teams in the each group qualify for the semi-finals.

Pointless Zamalek will entertain Group B's second-placed side TP Mazembe , from the Democratic Republic of Congo, behind closed doors as a result of security concerns, while Ahly are away to third-placeBerekum Chelsea in Ghana.

Mazembe defeated Zamalek 2-0 at home two weeks ago after a series of superb saves from Abdel Wahed Al Sayed kept the match scoreless for 70 minutes while a Walid Soliman brace clinched a 4-1 triumph for Ahly over Chelsea in Cairo.

A hat-trick of victories leaves record six-time African champions Ahly on nine points, Mazembe and Chelsea are separated by goal difference as they have four points each and Zamalek have suffered three consecutive losses.

But Egyptian victories in Cairo and Accra would move Zamalek within one point of Mazembe and Chelsea and open up the race to finish runners-up in the so-called 'Group of Death'.

Benin and Zamalek striker Razak Omotoyossi believes the five-time Champions League title holders are still in contention, but must win their remaining fixtures against Mazembe, Chelsea and Ahly in Cairo.

"I really hope we can win our remaining three fixtures and finish with nine points. We have a chance of qualifying - albeit a slim one," he told Egyptian reporters.

The clash with four-time African champions Mazembe marks the debut of Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, who took over when legendary Hassan Shehata resigned after a row with the club chairman.

Shehata, who led Egypt to an unrivalled three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations titles between 2006 and 2010, had personality clashes with stars 'Shikabala' and 'Mido' and his departure was no surprise.

Vieira, 59, has worked across the Middle East for several decades and his greatest achievement was leading outsiders Iraq to the Asian Cup title five years ago.

Zamalek will be missing midfielders Ahmed Hassan (suspended) and Nour Al Sayed (injured) for a game to be handled by Mauritanian officials after Mazembe objected to Tunisians controlling a game involving another North African country.

Mazembe prepared for the match in Zambia after refusing to release five stars from that country - Francis Kasonde, Stoppila Sunzu, Hichani Himonde, Rainford Kalaba, Given Singuluma - for the midweek friendly defeat by South Korea.

Meanwhile, Esperance are aiming to extend an unbeaten run in the competition to 20 matches spanning two seasons.

ASO Chlef of Algeria will host Sunshine Stars of Nigeria in the group's other game.

Etoile and Sunshine have four points each and appear set to battle for second place, while ASO Chief appeared to be out of the running with no points from their three games.