Sudan's Merreikh are close to reaching the CAF Champions League group stage for the first time in their history after beating Kampala City 1-0 in Uganda on Friday. Nigerian striker Endurance Idahor scored the winner ten minutes after the restart. A draw at home in the round of 16 second leg will be enough for Merreikh to book a historic place in the group stage. Merreikh's arch-rivals Hilal will be also looking to get beyond the knockout phase. The 2007 semi-finalists face Angolan side Primeiro de Agosto away from home on Saturday.