Chelsea filled with optimism as they ready for Ahly

Berekum Chelsea will be thinking about their campaign in the African Champions League as the competition heads into the business end, qualification to the semi-finals.

With three matches to wrap up their mini-league, Chelsea, with four points from their first three matches, the former Ghanaian champions are well aware that they can still advance despite being holed up a difficult group which includes three former champions - Al-Ahly, T.P. Mazembe and Zamalek.

Hans Van der Plyum's side play Ahly in the reverse game at the Accra Sports Stadium in Group B.

After disappointing in a 4-1 defeat a fortnight ago, Chelsea will be eager to turn around the result when they clash with the six-time champions.

"I know it will be very difficult, but when you play at home you have to make the game," Plyum said ahead of Sunday's home game.

"Against a team with the tactical discipline of Al Ahly, with so much experience in African football, you have to also be very tactically disciplined. If we can do that then I think we have a chance to take all three points. We created scoring opportunities against Ahly in the first 10 minutes of both halves but we gave goals away too cheaply."

The top two clubs in each group advance to the semi-finals and the Chelsea coach believes his side can upset the form book in their debut competition.

"That's our wish and our dream. In football, anything and everything can happen, and it's very difficult to look into the future and predict. But we'll do everything possible to get that place."

Chelsea's Ghana international Emmanuel Clottey leads the goal charts, having scored 12 Champions League goals.

He is just one shy of the 13-goal record set by Nigerian striker Stephen Worgu for Enyimba in 2008.