2014 CAF Champions League All-Star XI
Entende Sportive de Setif have been crowned victors of the Confederation of African Football’s Champions League. The Algerian club won the 2014 edition of the competition; their first continental title in 26 years. AFKSports takes a look back and honours the Champions League’s top performers across the continent.
Sofiane Younes (31 years-old, ES Setif, Left-winger)
Sofiane Younes was seemingly past his best when he signed for ES Setif. After a long spell at MC Alger, Younes found himself on the wrong side of thirty and at a brand new club. Initially, he could not force his way into this Setif side, as Ogbi Benhaddouche and Khaled Gourmi monopolized the wide positions. In the summer, Setif an exodus of players opened an opportunity for Younes, who immediately impressed. He would go on to score four goals in this Champions League campaign, including against TP Mazembe in both legs, and in the second leg of the tournament final against Vita Club.
Firmin Ndombe Mubele (22 years-old, AS Vita Club, Striker):
Joint top-scorer of the Champions League alongside El Hedi Belameiri, Mubele has been this season’s breakout star. The stocky striker was the principal artisan in Vita Club’s historic run. What Mubele lacks in stature, he compensates for in power. Many a defender has been duped by his change of pace and clinical finishing. However, a slight criticism levelled at Mubele, is his failure to score in many of Vita Club’s crucial fixtures.
El Hedi Belameiri (23 years-old, ES Setif, Right-winger):
Born and raised in France, El Hedi Belameiri was playing in the French third division when Hassan Hammar signed him. He illustrated precocious abilities in Setif’s Champions League campaign, scoring or assisting in every round of the tournament. Belameiri finished as the tournament’s top scorer. Surpisingly, Belameiri could not break into Setif’s first-team until more established players left Les Aigles Noires. It may soon be his turn to leave the High Plains as various European teams are keeping a watchful eye on his progress.
Ferjani Sassi (22 years old, CS Sfaxien, Central midfielder):
Very few African-based players have the playing profile of Ferjani Sassi. Sfax’s number 13 is an aesthete’s footballer, exuding ethereal elegance on the pitch. His exquisite touch and incisive passing has, this year, been supplemented by a nose for goal. He has five goals this calendar year, and that kind of improvement has a host of French clubs salivating. Lens, Lyon, and Toulouse are reportedly particularly keen on the Tunisian ace.
Didier Ibrahim Ndong (20 years old, CS Sfaxien, Central midfielder):
The Gabonese jack-of-all-trades complements midfield partner, Ferjani Sassi, perfectly. Ibrahim Ndong employs indefatigable endurance to get up and down the pitch and participate in both offensive and defensive sequences of play. The combination of qualities allows him to execute a tackle in his own third of the pitch, and deliver an assist in the opponent’s third. Like Sassi, very little time will pass before Ndong is transferred across the Mediterranean basin.
Lema Mabidi (21 years old, AS Vita Club, Central midfielder):
Despite his young age, Vita Club’s captain Lema Mabidi shouldered his responsibilities when they came his way. He particularly displayed his leadership capabilities in the two legs against ES Setif in the Champions League final. Then he scored all three of Vita Club’s goals: a 30-yard belter in Kinshasa, and two penalty kicks coolly dispatched under pressure. His knack of scoring important goals and showing up in opportune moments makes him a shoo-in in our list.
Ali Maaloul (24 years old, CS Sfaxien, Fullback):
Ali Maaloul is quite the unorthodox fullback. The CS Sfaxien captain has the intelligence of an attacking midfielder; and, when’s he’s freed of his defensive constraints he orchestrates attacks from defence. It really is a magnificent scene to behold as Maaloul advances, overlapping his winger, and serving luscious deliveries to his strikers. He is a unique player that will surely mark the African game for many years to come.
Yaw Frimpong (27 years old, TP Mazembe, Fullback):
The Ghanaian buccaneering fullback was simply untenable in most TP Mazembe matches. Forming a symbiotic relationship with compatriot Solomon Asante, Frimpong put himself in positions to display his electric pace and chaotic crossing. Though there remains a margin of progression for Frimpong, his performances have been good enough to warrant this recognition.
Farid Mellouli (30 years old, ES Setif, Centre-half):
Farid Mellouli had to govern this Setif team through an exodus of players that ripped the spine from his team. His backline was particularly affected as fellow veteran Fares Abderrahmane, and Algerian international, Mohamed Ziti, both left the club. It didn’t help that fellow centre-half Abdelghani Demmou was injured for the vast majority of Setif’s Champions League campaign. It is a testament to Mellouli’s maturity and leadership that Setif had the second-best defence in the Champions League.
Salif Coulibaly (26 years old, TP Mazembe Centre-half):
This gigantic Malian cenre-half has admirably taken the mantle after talismanic Stoppila Sunzu left TP Mazembe for French club Sochuax. Standing at nearly two metres, Coulibaly is unbeatable in aerial duels, and he was an attacking threat as well, scoring off of a corner-kick against Setif in the semi-finals.
Sofiane Khedairïa (25 years old, ES Setif, Goalkeeper):
Like teammate El Hedi Belameiri, Sofiane Khedairia was born and raised in France. Khedairia found it virtually impossible climbing the French football hierarchy, toiling in the third division. The former Le Mans man, therefore, decided to ply his trade in Algeria. The move has proved successful as Khedairia is on the fringe of a call-up with the national team after racking up four clean sheets in the Champions League – a tournament high.