CAF CL Preview: Al Ahly Benghazi dare Berekum Chelsea

By Fiifi Anaman
Berekum Chelsea's journey in this year's CAF Champions League continues as they welcome Libyan outfit Al Ahly Benghazi http://allsports.com.gh/2014/02/26/profile-opponents-of-berekum-chelsea-al-ahly-bengharzi/ to the Berekum this weekend.

After dramatically making it past South Sudanese champions Atlabara on 3-0 on penalties after a pulsating 2-2 aggregate score in the Preliminary stage, Chelsea will hope to make it past the Benghazi-based Libyan club to bring them closer to their dream of making the group stage of Africa's elite club competition for the second time in three years.

Al Ahly Benghazi, known as the 'Butchers', come into the game off the back of a 4-1 aggregate win over Chadian Champions Foullah Edifice in the Preliminary round.

But despite the fact that they are bigger – widely considered Libya's second most supported club' – and older – founded 53 years before – than Chelsea, they have never made it to the Group phase of this competition, and Chelsea, who have, will eye making sure it remains that way for the four-time Libyan champions.

A 3-0 thrashing of Heart of Lions in the league over the week was part of an impressive run of four league games without defeat, a feat that has done Chelsea's fortunes in the league a great deal of good after a horrible start. This is sure to give the Blues a boost going into this  game.

Chelsea are now Ghana's only representative in the competition after the shocking elimination of Ghana Premier League champions Asante Kotoko at the hands of Liberian champions Barrack Young Controllers in the preliminary stage, and so are expected to enjoy massive support as they fly high the flag of the country.

Al Ahly Benghazi on the other hand, participating in this tournament for the first time since 1992, will hope to grab at least a point back to Libya.