In our connected world, millions will watch the biggest clash of the round in Milan this European night, and there will be little doubt of a strong African flavour to the coffee. Across Africa millions will emphatise with the vanquished, but will sooner file behind the victors in their chase for glory a continent away.
On a night when every African football fan should be proud of how much colour the continent's players are adding to the European game, I am sad. Sad because this is a game that has come several rounds too soon.
Whatever happens today at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, and two weeks later at Stamford Bridge in London, at least three of Africa's finest talents, with otherwise real chances of lifting the European Cup, will be out of the race.
It could be the Chelsea set of Michael Essien, Mikel Obi, Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba cursing their luck or Inter's Samuel Eto'o, Sulley Muntari and McDonald Mariga cringing in pain.
It is tough on an African football fan like me, but I guess in the end, it is to the successful set of players that Africa will look, and pray for to go all the way, so that on the final night in May, as it was last year with Eto'o and Yaya Toure, there will be more joy and pride on the continent.
The attackers
This clash will pit the finest two predators on the continent, if not the world, in a head-to-head combat. It will be the all-action Drogba against lightning fast poacher Eto'o.
Both come to this match with diametrically opposed fortunes. While at 31 years Drogba has watchers of the Age Clock befuddled with a potential best-ever-season run, Samuel Eto'o appears a ghost of his old gladiatorial self.
The goals have been few and far between for the Cameroon star, with some even speculating he might lose his first option privilege to Macedonia's Goran Pandev who joined Inter in January, and appears to have settled in nicely.
Red-hot Drogba has vented his spleen after another failed attempt at lifting the Africa Cup of Nations, on defenders in England. He has scored in all, but one match, since returning from Angola, racking up 6 goals in 5 games.
On the contrary Eto'o is yet to net for the Nerazzurris post-Angola albeit playing a vital role in their attacking onslaughts.
In Europe Drogba also leads despite serving a three-match ban, with 3 goals in three games, while Eto'o has 1 goal in 6 appearances for Inter.
Nonetheless underestimate this Lion, and you may end up with your guts wrenched out.
Three-time champion of Europe with Real Madrid and Barcelona, Eto'o is a formidable competitor who flowers on the big stage. His poor run in Europe noted, but who is to say this is not the day the Lion is unshackled?
Another African player likely to feature in attack is Ivorian Salomon Kalou who could come in as a second half marauder in Inter's den.
The enforcers
There are other big battles too. Young Nigerian Mikel Obi, who appears to have grown in stature at the London club under Ancelotti, will seek to break Sulley Muntari's rhythm for the Italian champions.
That battle will be fought more in Mikel's end of the pitch, for while the Nigerian is at the based of Ancelotti's diamond, the more experienced Ghanaian is an attacking player with a bullet left foot when he finds the space.
I expect both players to start the match, but while Mikel should last the distance, I foresee Muntari giving way in the second half, possibly, though unlikely, to Kenyan McDonald Mariga.
The 22-year old Mariga has been compared to Mikel, and has impressed since joining Inter from Parma, but whether he can be trusted at this level is highly uncertain.
credit: Kenneth Ezaga
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